Updating Risk: Motivational Preparedness Factors of Risk Perceptions, Risk Taking, and Coping Through Self-Regulation

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Building on our results of the first funding period regarding the motivational determinants of dynamic risk perception and risk taking, we will continue to investigate how people cope with exposure to critical events. We will target the different influences of affect depending on the individual’s mindset (preparedness). We will explore whether changes in the individual preparedness through the induction of mindsets influences the openness for affect-rich information and motivational interventions. Moreover, we will investigate how if-then plans can help people to mitigate external influences on risk taking in different domains (e.g., social, health).In Work Package 1, we will continue our work on PEC cycle trajectories in the laboratory (i.e., risk taking in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, BART). More specifically, we will explore the role of affect-poor versus affect-rich feedback information (i.e., changes in the critical event itself) to systematically validate new, affect-incorporating predictions of mindset theory. To this end, we will experimentally manipulate exposure in the BART and preparedness by mindset inductions.In Work Package 2, we will advance our understanding of the effects of mindset induction on coping with motivational interventions in hazardously drinking individuals. We build on our observation that the combination of implemental mindsets with motivational interviewing influences actual risk behavior but not risk perceptions. We will devise new assessments of alcohol-related risk perceptions in student samples. Furthermore, we will target potential underlying processes (e.g., resistance to change, commitment), as well as compensation and generalization effects by including the assessment of alternative substances.In Work Package 3, we will investigate whether external and internal influences on risk taking can be self-regulated by task performance focused if-then plans. We expect such plans to be a beneficial coping tool for dealing with exposure to the critical events. In one experiment, we will administer a dose of testosterone and investigate its effect on risk taking in the BART as well as social risk taking. In two other studies, we will focus on the effects of unpleasant background noise and incidental anger on risk taking. Our research question pertains to whether these effects, although operating outside of conscious awareness can be self-regulated by task performance focused if-then plans.In general, P6 focuses on the dynamic aspects of coping with risk exposures. It shares the interest in the effects of mindsets on information processing with P1 ‘Contagious Risk Perception’ and on motivational interventions with P8 ‘Pathological Risk’. Through our overlaps on investigating alcohol consumption and hormonal influences on risk taking, we will further benefit greatly from an exchange with P4 ‘Prepared for Risk’ and P9 ‘Stress Risk’, respectively.