A Conflict Theory of Group Risk Taking

Abstract

The primary purpose of the article is to show how a theory of group risk taking can be derived from a conflict theory of individual risk taking. This effort begins with three related assumptions: (a) that risk generates internal conflict in individuals who make nonimpulsive decisions, (b) that individuals' reactions to these conflicts generate unpleasant feelings that affect their risk taking, and (c) that they can change these feelings by using defense mechanisms which, in turn, may result in changes in the risks they take. It is further assumed that the use of such defense mechanisms is facilitated when decisions are made in groups; this assumption forms the basis of a theory of group risk taking. A second purpose of this article is to discuss the methodological problems that arise when analyzing group risk taking. It is argued that analysis of group risk taking should concern the changes in risk taking found at both the group and the individual level and that it should consider interactions among factors involved in conflict reactions. This is illustrated by a small empirical study.