Risky Decision-making among Subgroups of Socially Anxious Individuals

Social anxiety represents an important individual characteristic that may moderate an individual’s decision to engage in risky behavior. Research indicates that there are two distinct groups of socially anxious individuals, an avoidance-oriented, risk-averse group, and an approach-oriented, risk-taking group. Recent theoretical and empirical work suggests that social comparison information affects the extent to which non-anxious and socially anxious individuals decide to engage in risk. Given that socially anxious individuals are hyper-sensitive to social concerns, subgroups of socially anxious individuals may differ from each other and from non-anxious individuals in their risk- taking provided social comparison information. Undergraduate psychology students completed risky word problems under various social conditions in which their decision to engage in risk may or may not be public knowledge. It was hypothesized that social anxiety, approach behavior, and condition would interact to predict increased risk-taking on risky word problems. Multiple regression analyses were not consistent with the hypothesis. A 3-way interaction between social anxiety x approach behavior x condition was not found; however, a significant main effect for condition was found.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Toledo

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Gahr, Jessica L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Seligman, Laura

• Psychology
• Social Anxiety
• Decision making
• risky behavior

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1352949163

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:toledo1352949163