Preprint: Boredom proneness predicts self-assessed decision errors in sports but is unrelated to risk taking in general

Introduction: Boredom proneness is linked to poor self-regulation, leading to poor decision making and/or increased risk taking. These links have not yet been investigated in the domain of sports and exercise. However, poor decisions or excessive risk behavior would be highly detrimental to sporting performance and, in some cases, even cause physical harm. Here, we address this gap by assessing if boredom proneness is linked to general risk taking, sport-specific risk taking, and to regrets about sports-specific decision errors with respect to acting too risky or too passively.Methods: N = 936 athletes (27.6 ± 9.0 years, 89.6% men) – n = 330 Climbers (31.8 ± 10.7 years, 82.4% men), n = 83 Snowboarders (29.9 ± 8.3 years, 79.5% men), and n = 523 Esports athletes (24.6 ± 6.3 years, 95.8% men) – completed the Short Boredom Proneness Scale (SBPS), along with measures for objective risk taking (Balloon Analogue Risk Task; BART), subjective risk taking (general willingness to take risks), as well as assessments for sport-specific risk taking and regrets for sports-specific decision errors (taking too many risks, failing to act at all). In the two extreme sports samples (Climbers and Snowboarders), we additionally assessed self-selected outcome certainty in a hypothetical sports-specific scenario where an error would result in physical harm.Results: A series of multiple regression analyses revealed that boredom proneness was unrelated to objective and subjective general risk taking, but a significant predictor of sport-specific risk taking and higher risk taking in the sports scenario (Climbers and Snowboarders only). Most importantly, boredom proneness predicted regrets for taking too many risks and being too passive. Exploratory post-hoc analyses further indicated that boredom proneness in extreme sports athletes was lower than in esports athletes. Higher boredom proneness was significantly related to lower skill levels across all kinds of sport.Discussion: Across three athlete samples, boredom proneness was unrelated to general risk taking but significantly related to poorer decision making, as indicated by regrets about acting too risky and too passively, as well as demanding a significantly lower safety threshold to make a risky sports-specific choice. While at odds with the often reported link between boredom proneness and risk taking, these results are consistent with the conceptualization of boredom proneness as a maladaptive self-regulatory disposition that leads to noisy decision making in sports. In addition, we provide preliminary evidence that boredom proneness covaries with self-selection into specific types of sports and might also stand in the way of skill acquisition in sports.

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Increased risk-taking decision-making but not altered response to punishment in stimulant-using young adults

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2004.10.001 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

pp. 83-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

David S. Leland ◽

Martin P. Paulus

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Young Adults ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Altered Response

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Preprint: Bursting Balloons - Comparison of Risk Propensity Between Extreme Sports Esports and the General Public

10.31234/osf.io/4jkgh ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lucas Keller ◽

Maik Bieleke ◽

Wanja Wolff

Keyword(s):

Risk Taking ◽

General Public ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Behavioral Risk ◽

Risk Propensity ◽

Extreme Sports ◽

Specific Risk ◽

Risk Appetite ◽

Self Reports ◽

Risk Taking Behavior

Arguably, extreme sports athletes exhibit a more significant risk appetite than the general public. Are standard behavioral risk measures able to capture this? To answer this question, we assessed self-reports of risk taking and measured the risk-taking behavior of samples of snowboarders and climbers. Two groups of non-athletes, university students and crowdworkers, and athletes of a sport that does not include the potential of grave injury or death, esports athletes, serve as control conditions and complement our study. Across these five different groups, 1313 participants performed an online version of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) and gave self-reports of general risk-taking propensity and sports-specific risk taking. Extreme sports athletes exhibited greater risk propensity in the BART than non-athletes and esports athletes. Furthermore, BART-performance predicted sports-specific risk taking and its affective consequences. Our results speak to the BART’s ecological validity and the unique role of physical consequences on risk-taking behavior.

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Risky decision-making following prefrontal D1 receptor manipulation

Translational Neuroscience ◽

10.1515/tnsci-2020-0187 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 432-443

Author(s):

Dominik K. E. Beyer ◽

Lisa Horn ◽

Nadine Klinker ◽

Nadja Freund

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Iowa Gambling Task ◽

D1 Receptor ◽

Behavioral Changes ◽

Risky Decision Making ◽

Risky Decision ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Right

Abstract The prefrontal dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) is involved in cognitive processes. Viral overexpression of this receptor in rats further increases the reward-related behaviors and even its termination induces anhedonia and helplessness. In this study, we investigated the risky decision-making during D1R overexpression and its termination. Rats conducted the rodent version of the Iowa gambling task daily. In addition, the methyl CpG–binding protein-2 (MeCP2), one regulator connecting the dopaminergic system, cognitive processes, and mood-related behavior, was investigated after completion of the behavioral tasks. D1R overexpressing subjects exhibited maladaptive risky decision-making and risky decisions returned to control levels following termination of D1R overexpression; however, after termination, animals earned less reward compared to control subjects. In this phase, MeCP2-positive cells were elevated in the right amygdala. Our results extend the previously reported behavioral changes in the D1R-manipulated animal model to increased risk-taking and revealed differential MeCP2 expression adding further evidence for a bipolar disorder-like phenotype of this model.

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Decision making under stress: mild hypoxia leads to increased risk-taking

Stress ◽

10.1080/10253890.2019.1680634 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 290-297

Author(s):

Stefania Pighin ◽

Nicolao Bonini ◽

Constantinos Hadjichristidis ◽

Federico Schena ◽

Lucia Savadori

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Mild Hypoxia

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Neural processes in antecedent anxiety modulate risk-taking behavior

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-82229-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kyle Nash ◽

Josh Leota ◽

Alex Tran

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Real World ◽

Anterior Insula ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

Risky Decision Making ◽

Risky Decision ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Neural Processes ◽

Economic Anxiety

AbstractThough real-world decisions are often made in the shadow of economic uncertainties, work problems, relationship troubles, existential angst, etc., the neural processes involved in this common experience remain poorly understood. Here, we randomly assigned participants (N = 97) to either a poignant experience of forecasted economic anxiety or a no-anxiety control condition. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we then examined how source-localized, anxiety-specific neural activation modulated risky decision making and strategic behavior in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Previous research demonstrates opposing effects of anxiety on risk-taking, leading to contrasting predictions. On the one hand, activity in the dorsomedial PFC/anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and anterior insula, brain regions linked with anxiety and sensitivity to risk, should mediate the effect of economic anxiety on increased risk-averse decision-making. On the other hand, activation in the ventromedial PFC, a brain region important in emotion regulation and subjective valuation in decision-making, should mediate the effect of economic anxiety on increased risky decision-making. Results revealed evidence related to both predictions. Additionally, anxiety-specific activation in the dmPFC/ACC and the anterior insula were associated with disrupted learning across the task. These results shed light on the neurobiology of antecedent anxiety and risk-taking and provide potential insight into understanding how real-world anxieties can impact decision-making processes.

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Reward and threat in the adolescent brain: implications for leadership development

Leadership & Organization Development Journal ◽

10.1108/lodj-03-2015-0062 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 530-548 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Patricia M. Riddell

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Young Adults ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Generational Differences ◽

Content Type ◽

Recent Advances ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Leadership Experiences ◽

The Brain ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose In the last 10 to 15 years, research studies have focused on the effects of differences across generations that result in differences in cultural expectations within the workplace (e.g. Arsenault, 2004). Different generations create shared attitudes to work and preferences for types of work which result in differences in their perception of, for instance, what makes a good leader or even the value of leadership within an organisation. While these generational differences are real, these analyses do not take into account differences that might result from the age, and therefore developmental stage, of the populations being assessed. The neuroscience literature clearly shows that there are maturational differences in the brain which are not complete until late teens to early 20s. It is therefore possible that some of the generational differences result from differences in processing ability resulting from structural immaturities in the brain. In particular, there are differences in the rate of maturation of areas of the brain related to reward sensitivity, threat sensitivity and regulation of behaviour which result in substantial differences in behaviour from adolescence through into adulthood. The purpose of this paper is to consider the effect of maturational changes in the brain on behaviours related to leadership and to outline ways in which these changes can be addressed in order to encourage young people to develop as leaders. This will include providing suitable experiences of leadership to encourage the faster development of the neural structures which underlie these capabilities. Design/methodology/approach Recent advances in neural imaging have resulted in a substantial increase in research investigating the development of the brain during adolescence. A literature review was conducted to find adolescent research that investigated decision making and risk taking. The data obtained were integrated and implications for leadership were drawn from an analysis of the resulting theoretical framework. Findings The research into decision-making processes in adolescents and younger adults points to a number of ways in which these differ from mature decision making. Younger people: (find it harder to inhibit behaviours) are more responsive to immediate reward; are more optimistic about the outcome of risky decisions; and are more responsive to social rewards (Jones et al., 2014). They also lack the experiences that adults use to distil the gist of a situation and therefore are more dependent on conscious, cost-benefit analysis of the outcome of decisions. Practical implications An understanding of the differences between adult and adolescent decision making points to the role of experience as a key factor in mature decision making. If adolescents are to make mature decisions, they have to be offered suitable challenges in safe environments from which they can gain expertise in leadership decision making. These can be designed to account for differences in sensitivity to reward and punishment in this group. In addition, young adults would benefit from learning the gist interpretations that have been extracted from situations by experienced leaders. This suggests that adolescents and adults would benefit from simulated leadership experiences and leadership mentoring. Social implications The Baby Boomer generation who currently hold many of the leadership positions in organisations are coming close to requirement. They will have to be replaced by members of Generation X and the Millennial Generation resulting in potentially younger leaders. In addition, flatter organisational structures that are currently being implemented in many organisations will require leadership at many more levels. Thus, we need to be able to develop leadership skills in a more diverse and younger section of society. Understanding how the brain develops can help us to design appropriate leadership experiences and training for this upcoming generation of young leaders. Originality/value Recent advances in neuroscience of adolescence provide a unique opportunity to bring new evidence to bear on our understanding of decision making in young adults. This provides practical implications for how to develop leadership within this group and to support them as they gain experience in this domain. The evidence also points to a benefit for the increased risk taking seen in adolescence since this leads to greater motivation to try new, and potentially risky, ventures. Through a better understanding of the differences in decision making, we can both help adolescents to develop more mature decision making faster while benefitting from the optimism of youth.

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A Bayesian Modelling Approach to Examine the Role of Testosterone Administration on the Endowment Effect and Risk-Taking

10.31234/osf.io/c37e4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mikhail Votinov ◽

Irina S Knyazeva ◽

Ute Habel ◽

Kerstin Konrad ◽

Andrei A. Puiu

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Serum Testosterone ◽

Endowment Effect ◽

Double Blind ◽

Transdermal Application ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Binary Choices ◽

Testosterone Administration

We investigated the effects of testosterone administration on aspects of decision-making within the Prospect Theory framework. Using bayesian modeling, we assessed risk-taking under framing and Endowment Effect (effect of possession). We administered 100mg testosterone to forty men in a double-blind placebo-controlled fully-randomized cross-over experiment where they participated in two tasks. One was a risktaking task with binary choices under positive and negative framing with different probabilities. In a second task, participants had to bid for for two categories of items, hedonic and utilitarian. We observed a signiﬁcant increase in serum testosterone concentrations after transdermal application. Compared to placebo, testosterone administration increased risk-taking under the positive framing and decreased under the negative framing. The sensitivity to gain was positive in each framing. Our model showed that decision-making is jointly inﬂuenced by testosterone and the trade-off between gains and losses. Moreover, while the endowment effect was more pronounced for hedonic than for utilitarian items, the effect was independent of testosterone. The ﬁndings provide novel information for the complex modulatory role of testosterone on risk-taking. The proposed models of effects of individual differences in testosterone on risk-taking could be used as predictive models.

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Bursting balloons - comparison of risk taking between extreme sports, esports, and the general public

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-021-02616-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lucas Keller ◽

Maik Bieleke ◽

Wanja Wolff

Keyword(s):

Risk Taking ◽

General Public ◽

Risk Measures ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Behavioral Risk ◽

Extreme Sports ◽

Specific Risk ◽

Risk Appetite ◽

Self Reports ◽

Risk Taking Behavior

AbstractArguably, extreme sports athletes exhibit a more significant risk appetite than the general public. Are standard behavioral risk measures able to capture this? To answer this question, we assessed self-reports of risk taking and measured the risk-taking behavior of samples of snowboarders and climbers. Two groups of non-athletes, university students and crowdworkers, and athletes of a sport that does not include the potential of grave injury or death, esports athletes, serve as control conditions and complement our study. Across these five different groups, 1313 participants performed an online version of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) and gave self-reports of general willingness to take risks and sports-specific risk taking. Extreme sports athletes exhibited greater risk taking in the BART than non-athletes and esports athletes. Furthermore, BART-performance predicted sports-specific risk taking and its affective consequences. Our results speak to the BART’s ecological validity and the unique role of physical consequences on risk-taking behavior.

Download Full-text