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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
Published on: September 19, 2012
Going for broke: mortality salience increases risky decision making on the Iowa gambling task
Joshua Hart1, James A Schwabach, Sheldon Solomon
1Department of Psychology, Union College, Schenectady, New York 12308, USA. hartj@union.edu
Abstract:
Research on gambling, and risk taking in general, has focused primarily on approach-related motivations. The current study examined the avoidance of existential anxiety as a possible source of risky decision making and behaviour. The authors hypothesized that participants reminded of their own mortality would consequently make riskier decisions (and therefore perform more poorly) on the Iowa gambling task. Results confirmed this prediction. Implications of the finding that existential concerns undermine efficient decision making are considered.
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