The Context of Risk Decisions: Does Social Capital Make a Difference?

Abstract: The traditional approach to risk in youth research has focused on the identification and weighting of risk factors in what has been called the "risk prevention paradigm". This paradigm has been critiqued, not least for its lack of engagement with contextual and structural issues. This article draws on recent empirical work which attempts to foreground issues of context and structure in its investigation of young people and risk, and in particular the role of social capital in risk decisions. We argue that two major paradigms underpin the debate about youth and risk: the "Prudential Human" who will make rational and normatively correct choices—balancing benefits against costs, and the "Gambling Human" who positively embraces risk-taking even "against the odds", and whose risk choices are often characterised as irrational and imprudent (ADAMS 1995; KEMSHALL 2003). Drawing on empirical work from "Young People, Social Capital and the Negotiation of Risk" carried out under the "Pathways.... https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/55

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: The Context of Risk Decisions: Does Social Capital Make a Difference? ; volume:7 ; number:1 ; day:31 ; month:01 ; year:2006 ; Forum qualitative Sozialforschung ; 7, Heft 1 (31.01.2006)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Boeck, Thilo ; Fleming, Jennie ; Kemshall, Hazel

Further information

• DOI: 10.17169/fqs-7.1.55
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0601170
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:36 AM CEST