Risk Perception and Personality Facets

TLDR

The study investigated how Big Five personality facets relate to risk perception. The authors assessed risk perception across a wide array of hazards, including energy production, pollutants, sex, deviance, addictions, weapons, common individual hazards, outdoor activities, medical care, and psychotropic drugs. Moderation, tranquility, rationality, efficiency, creativity, imagination, reflection, self‑disclosure, nurturance, and tenderness were identified as key personality facets predicting risk perception across these hazards, and these facets are suggested for future risk‑perception research.

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between personality facets and risk perception using the Big Five model. A broad range of hazards was considered: energy production, pollutants, sex, deviance, addictions, weapons, common individual hazards, outdoor activities, medical care, and psychotropic drugs. Key personality facets that were most predictive of risk perception compared to (or in association with) age, gender, educational level, and personality factors were identified. They were moderation and tranquility (associated with energy production or pollutants), rationality and efficiency (associated with pollutants, sex, deviance, addictions, or weapons), creativity, imagination, and reflection (associated with energy production, pollutants, or common individual hazards), self-disclosure (associated with outdoor activities), and nurturance and tenderness (associated with sex, deviance, addictions, or medical care). These facets may be recommended for use in future studies on risk perception.