The motivational effect of need on decision-making under risk

Risk-sensitivity theory predicts that decision-makers shift from risk-aversion to riskpreference in situations where low-risk options are unlikely to meet their needs. Risksensitive theory is contrasted with more traditional unbounded models of decision-making predicting that decision-makers seek to optimize utility in all decisions. In this dissertation, I review influential theories of decision-making from the various behavioral sciences, and offer an integrated approach to understanding decision-making informed by evolutionary theory. I then present evidence suggesting that risk-taking comprises a general phenomenon, inclusive of such behaviors as gambling and antisocial conduct. Finally, I demonstrate in several laboratory experiments that conditions of need, such as inequality, are important motivators of risky behavior. Together, the results suggest that risk-taking represents a functional triggering of preference for variable outcomes in response to conditions of need, consistent with risk-sensitivity theory.

Grantor dc:publisher

Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology, c2010

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Authors dc:creator

• Mishra, Sandeep
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

Advisor dc:contributor.supervisor

• Lalumière, Martin L.

• Decision making
• Risk-taking (Psychology)
• Dissertations, Academic

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier

hdl:10133/2580

OAI record oai:identifier

https://opus.uleth.ca/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Aopus.uleth.ca%3A10133%2F2580