Question: Since online betting appeared, my 33-year-old son gambles as much as he needs to be able to support his house, his wife and his little daughter. He is convinced that if he takes the risk he will have a better situation but he is full of debt. (ZEC, Pergamino)
Risky behaviors are those that endanger a person’s physical, emotional or social health. These behaviors vary, and include substance use, reckless driving, unprotected sex, technology abuse, among others.
From a psychological point of view, it is necessary to understand why people, despite knowing the possible risks, persist in these actions. This implies explore individual, contextual and social factors that influence such behaviors.
There are certain personality characteristics that predispose one to engage in risky behavior. For example, who needs to experience strong and novel emotions or the individual who cannot control their impulses or think long term.
Also, those with a feeling of invulnerability may underestimate the real risks. Or who has the optimism bias, whereby he believes that bad things are more likely to happen to others and not to him. A common example is someone who drives under the influence of alcohol. believing that he will not be involved in an accident.
What happens to young people and adolescents
Likewise, the social group can play an important role. Erik Erikson – one of the theorists of psychological development – argued that adolescents and young adults go through a phase of exploring their identity in which Risky behaviors can be part of the quest to find your place in the world.
Adolescence is a critical period where risk taking can be a form of experience limits and find autonomy.
Family, friends and the community influence in various ways, directly or indirectly, those who are most susceptible to the influence of their peers or third parties.
The need for belonging and acceptance can lead to take risks to be part of a group.
An example in certain groups is excessive alcohol consumption, which is considered a a rite of belonging or a demonstration of masculinity and strength.
Online betting can become a risky behavior. / Illustrative photo Shutterstock.Also, those who grow up in a family environment where adults participate in risky behaviors are very likely to adopt similar behaviors.
Albert Bandura’s social learning theory suggests that People learn by observing and imitating othersespecially those to whom they respect, idealize or have a strong emotional connection.
If adults or authority figures take risks, young people are more likely to imitate those behaviors.
People with difficulties regulating their emotions are the more likely to seek immediate relief through dangerous behaviors that may illusorily offer instant gratification or an escape route, even if the long-term consequences are negative.
According to the theory of “loss aversion” (by Kahneman and Tversky) people tend to make decisions based more on avoiding immediate pain or emotional discomfort rather than maximizing long-term benefits.
Therefore, this can lead to risky behavior if the individual seeks to avoid unpleasant feelings such as anxiety, stress or sadness, as a way of unloading and not of elaborating or understanding what is happening to them.
