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Differences in risk-defusing behavior in deciding for oneself versus deciding for other people
1University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Economic Psychology, Educational Psychology and Evaluation, Austria. maria.pollai@univie.ac.at
Acta Psychologica
|October 25, 2011
Summary
People consider detection probability less when making risky decisions for themselves compared to others. This impacts choices between pre-event and post-event risk-defusing operators (RDOs).
Area of Science:
- Decision Sciences
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Risk-defusing operators (RDOs) are crucial in naturalistic decision-making.
- Post-event RDOs are riskier but less costly than pre-event RDOs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how detection probability and involvement type influence the choice between pre-event and post-event RDOs.
- To examine the interaction between detection probability and involvement type in RDO selection.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted using naturalistic risky decision-making tasks.
- Participants' choices between pre-event and post-event RDOs were analyzed based on varying detection probabilities and involvement types (self vs. others).
Main Results:
- The influence of detection probability on RDO choice was significantly stronger when decisions involved consequences for other people compared to when they involved consequences for the decision-maker.
- Decision-makers showed a reduced consideration of detection probabilities in self-relevant risky decisions.
Conclusions:
- Involvement type significantly moderates the impact of detection probability on risk-defusing operator selection.
- Individuals exhibit different risk-management strategies depending on whether the decision's consequences are personal or altruistic.
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