ABSTRACT

While models considering the relationship between emotion and risk differ, many agree that emotions should affect risk in accordance with the adaptive function of the emotion. The function of boredom has been proposed to motivate the pursuit of an alternative experience. Based on this, we predicted that a state of boredom would result in an optimistic perception of risk and increased risk-taking. In Study 1 (n = 164) and Study 2 (n = 200) participants who were made bored (relative to neutral, anger, and fear conditions) reported less worry and concern and estimated fewer deaths for causes of death. Study 3 (n = 149) showed that participants who were made bored (compared to neutral and fear conditions) perceived risk more optimistically, reported being more likely to take risks, and perceived more potential benefits from taking risks. In Study 4 (n = 84) participants who were made bored (relative to neutral) took more risks on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, a behavioural measure of risk. These findings show that state boredom results in an optimistic perception of risk, increased self-reported risk taking, and increased risk taking. Our results support boredom as an emotion that impacts risk in line with its function.

摘要

虽然考虑情绪和风险之间关系的模型不同，但许多人都同意情绪应该根据情绪的适应功能影响风险。无聊的功能已被提出来激发对另类体验的追求。基于此，我们预测，无聊的状态会导致对风险的乐观看法和风险承担的增加。在研究 1 ( n  = 164) 和研究 2 ( n  = 200) 中，感到无聊（相对于中性、愤怒和恐惧条件）的参与者报告的担忧和担忧较少，估计因死因导致的死亡人数较少。研究 3 ( n = 149) 表明感到无聊的参与者（与中性和恐惧条件相比）更乐观地感知风险，报告说更有可能冒险，并且认为冒险带来的潜在好处更多。在研究 4 ( n  = 84) 中，感到无聊（相对于中立）的参与者在气球模拟风险任务中承担了更多的风险，这是一种行为的风险衡量指标。这些发现表明，状态无聊会导致对风险的乐观看法，增加自我报告的风险承担，并增加风险承担。我们的研究结果支持无聊是一种根据其功能影响风险的情绪。