Psychology of Risk Taking Behavior (eBook)

Front Cover 1
The Psychology of Risk Taking Behavior 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 20
Foreword 8
Preface 12
List of Tables and Figures 26
Chapter 1. What Is Risk Taking Behavior? 28
1.1. A Short Description of the Long History of Risk Taking 28
1.2. Definitions of Risk Taking 32
1.3. The Multifacetedness of Risk Taking 37
Chapter 2. How Do We Perceive Risks ? 42
2.1. Risk Perception and Risk Acceptance 42
2.2. Cross-Cultural Aspects of Risk Perception 49
Chapter 3. Who Engages In Risk Taking Behavior ? 54
3.1. Risk Taking and the Theory of Evolution 55
3.2. Risk Taking and Arousal 80
3.3. Individual (Personality) Differences and Risk Taking 104
3.4. Risk Taking and Sensation Seeking 116
3.5. Reversal Theory 128
Chapter 4. Which Situational Factors Influence Risk Taking Behavior ? 140
4.1. Decision Making Under Uncertainty 140
4.2. Historical Development of Expectancy x Value Theories 141
4.3. Modern Expectancy x Value Theories 144
4.4. Utility Theories and Risk Taking 154
Chapter 5. How Is Risk Taking Motivated and Emotionally Experienced? 156
5.1. Risk Taking and Theories of Motivation 156
5.2. Risk Taking and Emotions 166
Chapter 6. What Controls Risk Taking Behavior ? 188
6.1. Personal Control: Definitions and Historical Concepts 189
6.2. Personal Control and Evolutionary Utility 192
6.3. Personal Control and Psycho-Biological Consequences 194
6.4. Perceived Control and Risk Taking Behavior 199
6.5. Illusion of Control 201
6.6. The Two–Process Model of Perceived Control 203
Chapter 7. What Are the Consequences of Risk Taking Behavior ? 208
7.1. Young People, Risk Taking Behavior and Accidents 210
7.2. Risk Taking Behavior and Sport Accidents 212
7.3. Risk Taking Behavior and Industrial Accidents 215
7.4. Risk Taking and Traffic Accidents 223
7.5. Theories of Risk Taking Behavior in Traffic 230
Chapter 8. How Do We Adapt to the Desire for and the Control of Risk Taking Behavior ? 238
8.1. Risk Compensation Behavior and Risk Homeostasis Theory 239
8.2. Technical or Psychological Accident Countermeasures? 244
8.3. Risk Homeostasis Theory Applied to Accident Reduction 249
Chapter 9. How Can We Explain Risk Taking Behavior Holistically ? 260
9.1. Developing Risk Motivation Theory 263
9.2. Research Examining Risk Motivation Theory 277
Chapter 10. What Does Risk Motivation Mean for Our Daily Lives as Researchers and as "Normal" Risk Takers ? 306
10.1. Research Implications of a Motivation for Risks 307
10.2. Implications of a Risk Motivation for the "Real Life" 317
10.3. Personal Conclusions 323
References 324
Author Index 388
Subject Index 404