The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between verbal and non verbal intelligence, risk perception and intention to show risk behavior. Forty-eight teenagers, including 22 men and 26 women around 16 years old answered three instruments: Perception and Intention to Show Risk Behavior Scale, reasoning tests battery and Raven’s Progressive Matrix Test. Results indicated average classification concerning intelligence. There was significant difference between genres to mechanic reasoning, and men showed better performance than women. There was positive correlation between ethic-legal and health risk perception and verbal reasoning as well as between legal-ethic to health risk perception and intention to show financial risk behavior. Correlation between intelligence and risk perception was observed; higher intellectual abilities seem to help the individual in better perceiving the risk situations, but they don’t garantee they can avoid behaviors which generate punishment and sanctions consequent to risk contact. Studies like this have social and theoretical relevance to preventive social programs directed to teenagers in risk.
Risk perception; Risk behavior; Social vulnerability; Intelligence