Psychological Perspectives on Risk and Risk Analysis

This authoritative collection goes beyond economic statistics and probability data to offer a robust psychological understanding of risk perception and risk taking behavior. Expert contributors examine various risk domains in life, and pinpoint cognitive, emotional, and personality factors contributing to individual differences in risk taking as well as the many nuances social demographics (e.g., culture, gender) bring to risk decisions. Coverage takes competing theories and studies into account to identify mechanisms involved in processing and acting on uncertainty. And implications and applications are demonstrated in varied fields, from updated risk models for the insurance sector to improved risk communication in health services to considering risk perception in policy decisions.

A sampling of the topics:

• Personality and risk: beyond daredevils—risk taking from a temperament perspective.
  
• Cognitive, developmental, and neurobiological aspects of risk judgments.
  
• The group effect: social influences on risk identification, analysis, and decision-making.
  
• Cognitive architectures as a scaffolding for risky choice models.
  
• Improving understanding of health-relevant numerical information.
  
• Risk culture as a framework for improving competence in risk management.

Psychological Perspectives on Risk and Risk Analysis will be of great interest to researchers in and outside of psychology, including decision-making experts and behavioral economists. Additionally, this volume will appeal to practitioners who often have to make risky decisions, such as managers and physicians.

Martina Raue is a Researcher at the MIT AgeLab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She studies risk perception and decision making over the lifespan, with a focus on the roles of time and emotion. She applies theories from social psychology to challenges and risks of longevity and examines ways to improve planning and preparing for later life. Dr. Raue received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich in Germany and her Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Basel in Switzerland.

Eva Lermer is a Professor for Business Psychology at the FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics & Management in Munich, Germany and a Research Scientist at the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Regensburg, Germany. Her research interests include subjective risk assessment, decision-making and de-biasing strategies. In addition to her scientific research, Professor Lermer works as consultant for profit and non-profit organizations. Professor Lermer received her academic degrees from the University of Salzburg in Austria and the Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich in Germany.

Bernhard Streicher is a Full Professor for Social and Personality Psychology and Head of the Department of Psychology and Medical Sciences at the University for Health Sciences - UMIT in Hall, Tyrol in Austria. His research interests include the psychological mechanisms of decision making under risk and uncertainty and the question of how to enhance the risk competencies of people and organizations. In addition to his scientific research Professor Streicher works as a lecturer and consultant regarding the topic of ‘risk’ for profit and non-profit organizations. Professor Streicher received his academic titles from the Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich in Germany.

Martina Raue, Eva Lermer, and Bernhard Streicher conjointly founded the Risikolabor (risk lab) at the Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich in 2011. While currently based at different intuitions, they continue to collaborate on various research projects investigating human perception of risk and influences on risk taking behavior. In addition, they offer consulting and workshops on the topic. More about their work can be found online.