The Role of Contextual and Personal Factors in Children's Risk Taking

The primary aims of the present studies were to (a) add to the sparse developmental database on risk taking and (b) conduct initial tests of a self-regulation model (SRM) of risk taking. According to the SRM, inappropriate risk taking is associated with overconfidence, falling prey to dysregulating...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental psychology 1997-09, Vol.33 (5), p.814-823
Main Authors: Miller, David C, Byrnes, James P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Differences
Age Factors
Analysis of Variance
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child Behavior
Child Development
Child psychology
Childhood Attitudes
Childhood Interests
Children
Choice Behavior
Competitive Behavior
Competitiveness
Confidence
Context Effect
Contextual factors
Cross-Sectional Studies
Developmental psychology
Elementary Education
Elementary School Students
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gambling
Human
Human Sex Differences
Humans
Impulsive Behavior
Impulsiveness
Individual Differences
Male
Models, Psychological
Overconfidence
Peer Group
Peer Influence
Peer Relationship
Peers
Personality
Personality Traits
Psychological tests
Psychology, Child
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Regression Analysis
Reinforcement (Psychology)
Risk
Risk Taking
Risk Taking Behavior
Role
Self Control
Self Esteem
Self-Assessment
Self-Monitoring
Sex Differences
Sex Factors
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Summary:The primary aims of the present studies were to (a) add to the sparse developmental database on risk taking and (b) conduct initial tests of a self-regulation model (SRM) of risk taking. According to the SRM, inappropriate risk taking is associated with overconfidence, falling prey to dysregulating influences (e.g., impulsivity, peer presence, etc.), and an insensitivity to outcomes. Experiment 1 tested these proposals by assessing the effects of peer presence and 4 personal factors on the risk taking of 3rd, 5th, and 7th graders. Results generally supported the predictions of the SRM. In Experiment 2, the SRM gained further support from the finding that 5 variables correlated with risk taking in 4th, 6th, and 8th graders: ability beliefs, a preference for thrill seeking, peer nomination, competitiveness, and interest. The discussion focuses on the meaning of age and gender differences in risk-taking as well as the interventional implications of the SRM.
ISSN:0012-1649
1939-0599
DOI:10.1037/0012-1649.33.5.814