Psychology Of Risk Flashcards
What is a risk
Pattern of unnecessarily engaging in activities in activities or behaviours that are dangerous or highly subject to chance
Pattern of behaviour associated with substance abuse, gambling, high risk sexual behaviours and extreme sports
Accepting challenge that simultaneously involves potential for failure as well as accomplishment
Psychological views on risk
Social
Developmental
Individual differences
Cognitive
Biological
Social
Influences from perceived/ actual presence of others
Developmental
Changes that occur from conception to old age
Individual differences
Characteristics where individuals are distinguished
Cognitive
Operation of mental processes
Biological
Biological basis of behaviour
What can risk behaviour be
Financial
Ethical
Health
Recreational
Social
Risk perception
Less directly about knowledge and more about perception of risk
Subjective assumption made about the severity of risk
Why is perception problematic
Affect
Cognition
Context
Individual differences
Perceptual bias in decision making
3 components of deliberate vs auto strategies which influence emotion regulation
Interrupting a risk behaviour
Thinking before acting
Choosing between alternatives
What are the 3 components of deliberate and autostrategies applied through
Appraisal
Suppression
Appraisal
Reformulating understanding to minimise psychological difference positive outcome
Suppression
Inhibition of emotional response associated with emotion negative outcome:
Unrealistic optimism
Belief that negative event less likely than positive
Availability bias
Relying on info that more readily available or visible
Base rate neglects
Ignore baseline
In favour of more specific
Dunning Kruger effect
Unskilled individuals overestimate their ability
Support consented
Gamblers fallacy
Thinking future probabilities are affected by past events
Context
Framing is important to drawing conclusions
Loss of control
Indicates degree individual perceives to be under their control or outside forces
Executive Control
Places important role in decision making
Adolescents show less cognitive control especially with immediate rewards
Linked to brain development
Fundamental mediator in inhibition of pleasurable stimuli
5 main themes around justifying behaviour
Health risk perspective
Moderate use isn’t harmful
Counter evidence
Compensatory behaviour
Smoking as lesser evil
Personality, OCEAN
Openness
Conscientious
Extra version
Agreeableness
Neuroticism
Sensation seeking
High experience seeking individuals present lower sensitivity to aversive stimulation
Cognitive factors of risk perception
Gravity of events
Media coverage
Risk mitigating measures
Affective factors of risk perception
Emotions
Feelings
Moods
Contextual factors for risk perception
Framing of risk information
Availability of alternative information sources
Individual factors of risk perception
Persnaolity traits
Previous experience
Age
Gender
Neuroendocrine changes during puberty
More vulnerable to novelty and sensation seeking
Elevated t levels g males ljnked to aggressive risk taking
Men more inclined to take risks than women due to intersexual competition
Risk displays quality: social dominance, confidence, ambition and creativity
