Teenagers are well known for doing crazy things. When children become teens, they often take more risks. Some risks are dangerous and can cause injuries.
A new study of young chimpanzees may explain this. Researchers at the University of Michigan studied more than 100 wild chimpanzees in Uganda. The chimps were between 2 and 65 years old. The researchers watched how they swung through trees. Young chimps often did dangerous things, like letting go of branches and falling. Older chimps were more careful and held branches tightly.
Professor Laura MacLatchy explained why children and young chimps take risks. She said it is because parents watch them less at that age. Very young children are closely supervised, but teenagers have more freedom. Teens want to try new and risky activities.She also said boys and girls take risks in the same way, just like male and female chimps. The website ScienceAlert reported that some anthropologists believe children should have more chances for “thrill-seeking play.” For example, monkey bars can help children build motor skills and strong bones.
青少年常常做一些瘋狂的事。當孩子進入青春期，他們往往會冒更多的險。有些行為很危險，可能導致受傷。
一項針對年輕黑猩猩的新研究或許能解釋這種現象。美國密西根大學的研究人員在烏干達研究了超過 100 隻野生黑猩猩，年齡從 2 歲到 65 歲不等。他們觀察黑猩猩如何在樹間擺盪。年輕的黑猩猩常做危險的事，例如鬆開樹枝讓自己掉下來。年長的黑猩猩則更小心，緊緊抓住樹枝。
研究主持人 Laura MacLatchy 教授解釋了為什麼孩子和年輕黑猩猩會冒險。她說，這是因為在這個年齡，父母對他們的看管較少。年幼的孩子通常受到嚴格監督，但青少年有更多自由。他們想嘗試新的、冒險的活動。
她還說，男孩和女孩冒險的方式相同，就像雄性和雌性黑猩猩一樣。ScienceAlert 網站報導，一些人類學家認為應該讓孩子有更多「追求刺激的遊戲」機會。例如，玩單槓可以幫助孩子發展動作技能並強化骨骼。
📝 Key Vocabulary | 關鍵詞彙
- Risky behaviour 冒險行為
- Supervise 監督
- Freedom 自由
- Thrill-seeking 追求刺激
- Motor skills 動作技能
- Skeletal strength 骨骼強度
