Browsing by Subject "Risk-taking (Psychology)"
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Item Gender differences in risk-taking behavior: from family of origin to personality variables(Texas Tech University, 1998-05) Marquis, Anne-MarieGender differences in risk-taking behavior are reported frequenth in the more current risk-taking literature. The purpose of this study was to create a link between the powercontrol theory's explanation of gender differences in risk-taking (Grasmick, Hagan, Blackwell, & Ameklev, 1996; Hagan, Simpson, & Gillis, 1985, 1987, 1988) in the sociological literature with the theory that Sorrentino, Hewitt, and Raso-Knott (1992) have espoused, i.e., that an individual differences variable, uncertainty orientation, is strongly correlated with gender differences in risk-taking. Because the first theory is based mostly on delinquent risky behavior and the second theory is based on risk-taking in chance situations (a risky choice task), measures of both were administered to 118 male and 146 female undergraduate university students enrolled at Texas Tech University. Other measures administered included the following: Amett's Risky Behavior Scale (RBS; 1994), which includes items related to delinquency (mentioned above), reckless driving, substance abuse, and risky sexual behavior; the Amett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS; Amett, 1994); the short form of the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ; Spence & Helmreich, 1978); the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1979); and both the projective measure for assessing uncertainty orientation and the adaptation of the Byme and Lam berth (1971) acquiescence-free measure of authoritarianism to assess certainty orientation (Sorrentino, Hewitt et al., 1992). In addition, the same information collected by Grasmick et al. (1996) to test power-control theory also was collected. These questions related to parental occupational patriarchy; parental attitudinal patriarchy; intensity of childhood parental control; and risk preferences. These measures would serve to link this study to existing literature related to gender differences in risk-taking behavior. Results found both consistencies and inconsistencies with previous research. Congruencies with previous studies were: males preferred higher levels of risk than females on the risky choice task and the RBS, and higher levels of sensation seeking on the AISS. Factor analysis of the RBS yielded four discrete types of risky behavior (risky sexual behavior, reckless driving, delinquency, substance abuse). Males reported engaging in significantly more reckless driving and delinquent behavior. Gender differences were not statistically significant for risky sexual behavior or substance abuse. Family of origin predicted risky preferences for women. The specific relationship between lower patemal control and an increase in women's risky preferences was replicated. Furthermore, a replication of the correlation between variables related to an egalitarian family of origin and increase in women's delinquent behavior was obtained. Overall, the power-control theory did well to predict delinquency in both genders. Correlations between uncertainty orientation and some types of risky behaviors (delinquent behavior, substance abuse, and risky preferences) were found for women, but not for men. Data from the present study yielded no significant relationship between need for uncertainty and risk choice on the probability pairings task, though gender alone influenced behavior in this game as males preferred higher levels of risk than females. Additional findings and implications for future research are discussed.Item Risk perception and the value of safety for low probability, high consequence risks: theoretical and empirical investigation(Texas Tech University, 2000-05) Ozdemir, OzlemThe purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between individuals' risk perceptions and their willingness-to-pay for increased safety in low-probability, high consequence risk situations. In order to explore this relationship, we first review some previous theoretical models on individual decision making in risky situations, specifically for low-probability, high-consequence risks. Although standard economic theories have built a substantial framework to explain behavioral responses to risks, they are not fully adequate to describe people's decisions under some uncertain and risky situations, particularly for low-probability events (Camerer and Kunreuther, 1989). Therefore, empirical investigations become crucial. Consistent with McClelland, Shulze, and Coursey (1993), we believe that field and lab studies provide complementary information for low-probability risks.Item Risk-taking and homicide victimization : a multi-level study(2002-08) Toussaint, Danielle Watts; Stafford, Mark C.The majority of homicide research focuses on the explanation of aggregate-level variation in homicide rates. Fewer studies have examined homicide victims from an individual-level of analysis and those existing studies have been unable to sufficiently explain individual-level variation by race, age, gender, and social environment. This study posits that the key to explaining individual-level variation lies in the lifestyle of the victim. That is, the effect of race, age, gender, and social environment on homicide is mediated by healthcompromising and unsafe behaviors, such as drinking, gun ownership, or fighting. The 1993 National Mortality Followback Survey (NMFS) is used in a multilevel study to explore this topic. The NMFS is a large, nationally representative, dataset of US adults who died in 1993 and is uniquely suited for an analysis of homicide due to its large oversampling of homicide victims. The dependent variable compares homicide to deaths from risky causes (suicide, accidents, and preventable) and all other causes. The findings confirm that certain demographic correlates (young, male, non-white) are significantly related to a risky lifestyle. Also, certain risky, unsafe behaviors (drinking, drinking excessively, gun ownership, and attitudes favorable to deviance) are highly associated with homicides over other causes of death. Engagement in these risky behaviors is not uniquely related to death from homicide though – these same risky behaviors are highly associated with deaths from a risky cause. Additionally, only tentative support is given for the theory that lifestyle explains individual-level variation in homicide. The results demonstrate that, net of lifestyle, the victim’s race, age, gender, and social environment continue to have a significant and strong relationship with homicide victimization.Item Selected effects of creativity and risk taking on business game behavior: an experimental investigation(Texas Tech University, 1973-05) Ewing, Stephen,Not availableItem Transmission of risk-taking through modeling in middle childhood(Texas Tech University, 1972-05) Montgomery, Gary ThomasNot available