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Understanding Risk-Taking pp 35–67Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Different Disciplines

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Part of the book series: Critical Studies in Risk and Uncertainty ((CRSTRU))

ABSTRACT

Different disciplines approach risk-taking differently. This chapter revisits behavioural biology, cognitive psychology, rational choice theory and lay-expert debate and explores the contribution of sociological risk theories such as cultural approach, risk society and governmentality regarding their contribution to the understanding of risk-taking. Understanding risk-taking as a drive or need provides some understanding why people engage in risk-taking and personality theory why some people take more risks than others. Also rational choice theory informs about some tendencies in risk-taking. However, these approaches only explain a comparatively small proportion of risk-taking. Sociological macro-theories are weak in explaining meso- and micro-level patterns. Therefore, the chapter argues for conceptual work which helps to better understand individual sense-making of risk-taking in everyday life.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    However, neuroscientists argue that this behaviour results primarily from a particular stage in brain development that comes with increased short-term reward seeking, e.g. Steinberg (2008).

  2. 2.

    Skill situations require one’s skills to achieve positive outcomes while in chance situations success depends on pure chance.

  3. 3.

    Though there had been other controversies already, as the conflicts about the impact of DDT on the environment and humans (Wynne 1989, Frameworks of Rationality).

  4. 4.

    From the scientists’ point of view, laypeople might be a broad category, including workers which apply a technology in a specific context but are assumed to be lacking scientific expert knowledge.

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    Jens O. Zinn

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Zinn, J.O. (2020). Different Disciplines. In: Understanding Risk-Taking. Critical Studies in Risk and Uncertainty. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28650-7_3

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