Final answer:
Many adolescents are less self-confident as they navigate through significant psychosocial changes during their identity formation. Peer influence becomes predominant, while they also develop abstract thinking and experience hormonal mood swings. Despite more mature risk evaluation, they might still engage in risky behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compared to when they were children, many adolescents are less self-confident. This is a time marked by psychosocial changes, including the development of a stronger sense of personal identity and ethics. Adolescents, going through the phase of identity versus role confusion as described by Erikson, often struggle with questions like "Who am I?" and "What do I want to do with my life?" They may experience role confusion if they fail to develop a strong sense of self. This process can lead to feelings of uncertainty and a weaker self-confidence.
Adolescents generally develop the ability to think abstractly and may exhibit mood swings due to hormonal changes. During this period, peers and peer influence become increasingly important, sometimes more so than parental input, which can impact their level of independence and self-assuredness.
Although their ability to evaluate risks matures, adolescents might engage in riskier behaviors than adults because the brain's reward system is still developing. They typically attempt to assert their independence from parents and explore various roles while seeking their personal identities.