Wearing a Bicycle Helmet Can Increase Risk Taking and Sensation Seeking in Adults

Authors: Gamble, T. and Walker, I.

Journal: Psychological Science

Volume: 27

Issue: 2

Pages: 289-294

eISSN: 1467-9280

ISSN: 0956-7976

DOI: 10.1177/0956797615620784

Abstract:

Humans adapt their risk-taking behavior on the basis of perceptions of safety; this risk-compensation phenomenon is typified by people taking increased risks when using protective equipment. Existing studies have looked at people who know they are using safety equipment and have specifically focused on changes in behaviors for which that equipment might reduce risk. Here, we demonstrated that risk taking increases in people who are not explicitly aware they are wearing protective equipment; furthermore, this happens for behaviors that could not be made safer by that equipment. In a controlled study in which a helmet, compared with a baseball cap, was used as the head mount for an eye tracker, participants scored significantly higher on laboratory measures of both risk taking and sensation seeking. This happened despite there being no risk for the helmet to ameliorate and despite it being introduced purely as an eye tracker. The results suggest that unconscious activation of safety-related concepts primes globally increased risk propensity.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34511/

Source: Scopus

Wearing a Bicycle Helmet Can Increase Risk Taking and Sensation Seeking in Adults.

Authors: Gamble, T. and Walker, I.

Journal: Psychol Sci

Volume: 27

Issue: 2

Pages: 289-294

eISSN: 1467-9280

DOI: 10.1177/0956797615620784

Abstract:

Humans adapt their risk-taking behavior on the basis of perceptions of safety; this risk-compensation phenomenon is typified by people taking increased risks when using protective equipment. Existing studies have looked at people who know they are using safety equipment and have specifically focused on changes in behaviors for which that equipment might reduce risk. Here, we demonstrated that risk taking increases in people who are not explicitly aware they are wearing protective equipment; furthermore, this happens for behaviors that could not be made safer by that equipment. In a controlled study in which a helmet, compared with a baseball cap, was used as the head mount for an eye tracker, participants scored significantly higher on laboratory measures of both risk taking and sensation seeking. This happened despite there being no risk for the helmet to ameliorate and despite it being introduced purely as an eye tracker. The results suggest that unconscious activation of safety-related concepts primes globally increased risk propensity.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34511/

Source: PubMed

Wearing a Bicycle Helmet Can Increase Risk Taking and Sensation Seeking in Adults

Authors: Gamble, T. and Walker, I.

Journal: PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Volume: 27

Issue: 2

Pages: 289-294

eISSN: 1467-9280

ISSN: 0956-7976

DOI: 10.1177/0956797615620784

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34511/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Wearing a Bicycle Helmet Can Increase Risk Taking and Sensation Seeking in Adults.

Authors: Gamble, T. and Walker, I.

Journal: Psychological science

Volume: 27

Issue: 2

Pages: 289-294

eISSN: 1467-9280

ISSN: 0956-7976

DOI: 10.1177/0956797615620784

Abstract:

Humans adapt their risk-taking behavior on the basis of perceptions of safety; this risk-compensation phenomenon is typified by people taking increased risks when using protective equipment. Existing studies have looked at people who know they are using safety equipment and have specifically focused on changes in behaviors for which that equipment might reduce risk. Here, we demonstrated that risk taking increases in people who are not explicitly aware they are wearing protective equipment; furthermore, this happens for behaviors that could not be made safer by that equipment. In a controlled study in which a helmet, compared with a baseball cap, was used as the head mount for an eye tracker, participants scored significantly higher on laboratory measures of both risk taking and sensation seeking. This happened despite there being no risk for the helmet to ameliorate and despite it being introduced purely as an eye tracker. The results suggest that unconscious activation of safety-related concepts primes globally increased risk propensity.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34511/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

Wearing a Bicycle Helmet Can Increase Risk Taking and Sensation Seeking in Adults.

Authors: Gamble, T. and Walker, I.

Journal: Psychological Science

Volume: 27

Issue: 2

Pages: 289-294

ISSN: 0956-7976

Abstract:

Humans adapt their risk-taking behavior on the basis of perceptions of safety; this risk-compensation phenomenon is typified by people taking increased risks when using protective equipment. Existing studies have looked at people who know they are using safety equipment and have specifically focused on changes in behaviors for which that equipment might reduce risk. Here, we demonstrated that risk taking increases in people who are not explicitly aware they are wearing protective equipment; furthermore, this happens for behaviors that could not be made safer by that equipment. In a controlled study in which a helmet, compared with a baseball cap, was used as the head mount for an eye tracker, participants scored significantly higher on laboratory measures of both risk taking and sensation seeking. This happened despite there being no risk for the helmet to ameliorate and despite it being introduced purely as an eye tracker. The results suggest that unconscious activation of safety-related concepts primes globally increased risk propensity.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34511/

Source: BURO EPrints