The recent tragedy on the M9 has understandably prompted intense public discussion about young people and about dangerous driving, risk-taking and the influence of social media. At the outset, however, it is important to recognise that families and communities are grieving and that there are limits to what psychology can responsibly say about the motivations of the individuals involved. It is not possible to know what was going through the minds of particular young people in a specific incident and it would be inappropriate to speculate. What psychology can do though is help us understand the broader developmental and social context in which extreme risk-taking behaviour can occur.

Risk-taking among adolescents and young adults is not something new. Adolescence is a period in which young people develop a sense of independence, they test boundaries and become increasingly sensitive to social rewards as well as peer approval and novel experiences. Sensation-seeking and impulsive decision making can also be heightened during this period, particularly in emotionally charged situations or when peers are involved.

Of course this does not mean all adolescents engage in dangerous behaviour. Most young people navigate adolescence without engaging in extreme risk. However, developmental psychology helps us understand why, for some young people, the immediate reward of excitement, peer recognition or social status may temporarily outweigh an appreciation of longer-term consequences.

What has changed significantly in recent years is not the existence of adolescent risk-taking but its digitalisation.

Family of Alex McCarthy praying for ‘full recovery’ for M9 crash injured, funeral told

Brazilian woman (30s) found dead in Limerick named locally

Leaving Cert results and CAO 2026: our experts answer your questions

‘I couldn’t listen to it’: Brendan O’Connor frankness with Phil Coulter is an unmissable moment

Previously a risky act might have been witnessed by a small........

© The Irish Times