An exploration of the relationship between adolescent risk-taking and peer group culture, based on extensive interviews with teens themselves, this study shows that taking risks is an natural and necessary part of growing up. The author proposes that risks are declarations of the self, worn like badges of autonomy, or defiance, or group membership. With a broad interpretive approach locating human action within the symbolic forms, communicative practices, and shared idioms of culture, Lightfoot elucidates the cultural and psychological processes through which risk acquires meaning for teenagers - depicting the drama and daring of adolescent social life.; This book should be of interest to professionals and students in developmental, adolescent, and health psychology and in anthropology.