Thesis (Ph.D)--Boston University. / The aims of this study were: (1) to test whether hypotheses regarding the behavior of schizophrenics which had received support in level of aspiration studies would also be supported by decision theory type chance taking measures; and (2) to examine the kinds of risks toward which schizophrenics were most sensitive. Two theoretical models, decision theory and level of aspiration theory, dealing with decision making in situations involving the threat of failure, were shown to be basically similar in their formulation; they differed, however, in regard to the independence of probability and reward, and the degree of the individual's control over the outcome and the motive of achievement. "Risk," which was considered to be the objective equivalent of the clinical concept "threat of failure," was defined operationally as the negative term of the expected value model (i.e., as the product of the probability of loss and the amount of possible loss). [TRUNCATED]

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1991. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [126]-138).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-89) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-89) Also available online.

The first two experiments examined the relationship between risk and trust behaviour in two field situations. The third experiment was a replication of Wright, Maggied, and Palmer (1975). A conceptualization of trust, which included the factors: disposition, risk assessment (level of risk and interpersonal variables), and behavioural intention was outlined. The subject group was composed of 240 female undergraduates enlisted on the premises of the main library at the University of Victoria, Canada. In the first two experiments, a between groups' trust behaviour was compared over conditions of low and high manipulated risk. In both experiments, trust behaviour, which was found to vary significantly over risk conditions, was compared with ratings of risk assessment and scores obtained on Rotter's Interpersonal Trust Scale (ITS). Preliminary indications are that trust behaviour is not significantly related to risk-taking as reflected by subjects' choice of prize for completing the experiment. The third experiment did not replicate the results of Wright, et al. (1975) and showed no relationship between the number and type of questions asked by high or low scorers on the ITS. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

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While sleep loss has been shown to have detrimental effects on cognitive, physiological, and psychological processes, it has only recently been investigated as a possible causal factor of risk-taking behavior (i.e., a conscious choice to engage in dangerous behavior despite knowledge of possible loss or harm). Among the few studies that have been conducted in this field, the majority found that as individuals become sleepier, their propensity to engage in risk-taking behavior increased. The results of the current study indicated a positive relationship between increased sleep loss and two measures of specific risk-taking behavior (i.e., substance use, sexual compulsivity), but no significant relationship between sleep loss and measures of general risk-taking behavior. There was some evidence for temporal stability of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), though scores on the IGT were not related to scores on other measures of risk-taking, nor to measures of sleep loss. Negative mood was found to partially mediate the relationship between sleep loss and substance use, as well as the relationship between sleep loss and sexual compulsivity.

Entrepreneurial activity is a vital part of any economy whether developed or developing. In South Africa the primary focus of the government has been on the development of previously disadvantaged communities and designing programs to encourage the participation of women in entrepreneurship. This study sought to profile South African female entrepreneurs as well as investigate their risk taking propensity in relation to other constructs. T-tests as well as ANOVAs were conducted on data obtained from 122 female entrepreneurs across South Africa. The results indicated that the female entrepreneurs in the current study were typically white, English speaking, married with children, were well educated and possessed previous working experience mainly in managerial positions. The results also indicated a significant difference in risk taking propensity according to age with entrepreneurs who are 35 years and younger having a higher risk taking propensity than those who are 36 years and older. However, no significant differences were found in risk taking according to entrepreneurial motivations, gender role orientation, level of education and previous experience. The practical implications of the study are discussed together with the limitations.

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