title: Knowing where to draw the line: perceptual differences between risk-takers and non-risk-takers.
abstract: There are a variety of reasons someone might engage in risky behaviors, such as perceived invulnerability to harm or a belief that negative outcomes are more likely for others than for oneself. However, these risk-taking biases are often measured at a decision-making level or from the developmental perspective. Here we assessed whether or not risk-taking influenced perceptual judgments associated with risk. Participants were provided an objective task to measure individual differences in the perception of physical dimensions (i.e., actual size of a balloon) versus the perception of risk (i.e., size at which the balloon would explode). Our results show that specific differences in risk-taking personalities produce specific differences in perceptual judgments about risk, but do not affect perception of the actual dimensions. Thus, risk-takers differ from non-risk-takers in the perceptual estimations they make about risks, and therefore may be more likely to engage in dangerous or uncertain behaviors because they perceive risks differently.
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Adam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.affiliation: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Stey
authors.affiliation: Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, Michigan, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Davoli
authors.affiliation: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lapsley
authors.affiliation: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brockmole
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013334:Students