Problem: The nurse is working with adolescents. Which developmental rationale explains risk-taking behavior? Need Assignment Help? Adolescents are concrete thinkers and concentrate only on what is happening at that time. Risk of parents' anger and disappointment usually deters adolescents from risky behavior. Belief in their own invulnerability persuades adolescents that the can take risks safely. Peer pressure usually does not play an important part in an adolescent's decision to become sexually active.