Threat to life and risk-taking behaviors: a review of empirical findings and explanatory models.
This article reviews the literature focusing on the relationship between perceived threat to life and risk-taking behaviors. The review of empirical data, garnered from field studies and controlled experiments, suggests that personal threat to life results in elevated risk-taking behavior. To account for these findings, this review proposes a number of theoretical explanations. These frameworks are grounded in divergent conceptual models: coping with stress, emotion regulation, replenishing of lost resources through self-enhancement, modifications of key parameters of cognitive processing of risky outcomes, and neurocognitive mechanisms. The review concludes with a number of methodological considerations, as well as directions for future work in this promising area of research.
Ben-Zur
Hasida
H
School of Social Work, University of Haifa, Israel. zbz@netvision.net.il
Zeidner
Moshe
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003071:Cognition; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D004190:Disasters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036262:Empirical Research; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology