in the literature “The influence of mortality and socioeconomic status on risks and delayed rewards: a life history theory approach” (The effect of mortality and socioeconomic status on risks and delayed rewards: a life history theory approach) risky behavior He revealed an important fact about.
This research aims to understand the evolutionary roots of risk taking and people’s preferences for delayed gratification. growing up in poverty An attempt is made to determine to what extent this influences their risk-taking decisions.
First, let’s talk about the methodology of the research.
A series experimental study In this study, participants are asked to read publications that do or do not contain death cues (environmental cues that trigger individuals’ thoughts about death or the threat of death) and are then asked questions about risk and time preferences.
In this study, which included university students from different socio-economic backgrounds, the total 212 people A sample is being looked at.
In this regard participants Past and present economic situationsVariables such as risk preferences (taking risks for a given amount) and temporal discounting (receiving a larger amount in the future rather than a smaller amount immediately) are taken into account.
So what do the findings indicate? Those who had a bad childhood find it logical to take risks for an uncertain future.
The results show that when those who had a bad childhood thought about death or were threatened with death, more risk They prefer to buy.
Bigger but so taking risks for uncertain rewards They choose.
However, people who did not experience poverty in their childhood, that is, children from a wealthy family, face the same death threats. less risk It is said that they prefer to receive, that is, they choose smaller but definite rewards.
Researchers have found that this is the case when people with bad childhoods tend to take risks for big rewards in an uncertain and dangerous future. finds it more logicalHe interprets that those who come from a wealthy childhood prefer safe and small rewards because their background is more stable and secure.
When it comes to future rewards, the results are very different!
According to the study’s findings, those who had a bad childhood prefer immediate rewards when faced with death, that is, by not taking risks, rather than getting a bigger reward in the uncertain future. now a smaller reward They choose to buy.
Those who have had a rich childhood prefer to wait for future rewards when faced with the same threats. So now instead of a small reward a greater reward in the future They choose to buy.
Researchers have found that this is the case when people from low-income childhoods experience an uncertain future. living in the moment and interprets it because they prefer to receive rewards immediately.
The comments from those who came from an affluent childhood are that they prefer to wait for future rewards because they find the future more predictable based on their past experiences. they find it more logical It looks like this.
Taken together, these findings suggest that one of the most important factors determining people’s risk and reward preferences is socio-economic circumstances during childhood show that it is so.
Of course, as with any research, this research also applies There may be some restrictions Let us end our content by recalling that it would be more correct to generalize it within the scope of its own sample.
Source: National Library of Medicine
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