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Personality and risk perception in transport
Aslak Fyhri1, Agathe Backer-Grøndahl
1Institute of Transport Economics, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway. af@toi.no
Accident; Analysis and Prevention
|October 6, 2012
Summary
Personality traits influence transport risk perception and behavior. Emotional stability and agreeableness were linked to lower perceived risks, with emotional stability predicting safer transport choices.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Transportation Science
Background:
- Individual differences in risk perception are crucial for understanding transport behavior.
- Personality traits are increasingly recognized as significant factors influencing how individuals perceive and react to risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between Big Five personality traits and risk perception in transportation contexts.
- To examine how personality traits predict transport behavioral adaptations, specifically risk-preventive actions.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 312 participants completed a 44-item Big Five inventory.
- Risk perception was assessed concerning transport accidents and unpleasant incidents.
- Regression analyses were used to determine the predictive power of personality traits on behavioral adaptations.
Main Results:
- Emotional stability (versus neuroticism) showed a negative correlation with perceived risk of accidents and unpleasant incidents.
- 'Agreeableness' was negatively associated with perceived risks, particularly on transport involving social interaction.
- Emotional stability significantly predicted behavioral adaptations on buses, explaining 17-26% of the variance.
Conclusions:
- Personality traits, specifically emotional stability and agreeableness, systematically influence transport risk perception.
- These variations in risk perception translate into distinct risk-preventive behaviors, such as avoiding perceived risky situations.
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