Risk-Seeking Behavior
The Basic Idea
You and your friend are going out to dinner one night, and she offers to drive you to the restaurant. You are a little nervous as she is a pretty reckless driver, but agree anyway to be polite. The second she gets behind the wheel, she starts driving erratically, at one point crossing three lanes of traffic to pull a last-minute right turn. On a stretch of straight road, she goes 20 miles per hour over the limit, and in a split second, you see police lights behind her. She sighs and pulls over, exclaiming, “This is my third speeding ticket this month!”
You can’t wrap your head around why she hasn’t gotten a hold of her behavior throughout the years you’ve known her. As the officer looks at her license and registration, you mentally review her pastimes, including gambling and skydiving. Why does she do these things if it puts herself and others in danger? The answer is that she is engaging in risk-seeking behavior, which is defined as engaging in activities that put oneself at risk, either consciously or unconsciously.
As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all – the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.
– Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stoneby J.K. Rowling
About the Author
Lindsey Turk
Lindsey Turk is a Summer Content Associate at The Decision Lab. She holds a Master of Professional Studies in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston University. Over the last few years, she’s gained experience in customer service, consulting, research, and communications in various industries. Before The Decision Lab, Lindsey served as a consultant to the US Department of State, working with its international HIV initiative, PEPFAR. Through Cornell, she also worked with a health food company in Kenya to improve access to clean foods and cites this opportunity as what cemented her interest in using behavioral science for good.
