Risk compensation is a phenomenon that occurs when individuals adjust their behavior in response to their perception of risk. This can result in individuals taking more risks when they feel safer, and fewer risks when they feel less safe. Risk compensation can occur in a variety of contexts, including sports, transportation, and healthcare. It is important to understand the concept of risk compensation in order to design effective safety interventions and policies. One important aspect of risk compensation is the role of incentives. When individuals are given incentives to take risks, they may be more likely to engage in risky behavior even if they are aware of the potential consequences. For example, if individuals are rewarded for driving faster, they may be more likely to speed even if they know that it increases their risk of getting into an accident. Another important aspect of risk compensation is the role of experience. Individuals who have more experience in a particular activity may be more likely to engage in risky behavior because they feel more confident in their abilities. This can be particularly dangerous in high-risk activities such as extreme sports or driving. It is also important to consider the potential unintended consequences of safety interventions. For example, if individuals are required to wear helmets while engaging in a particular activity, they may feel more invincible and take more risks than they would without the helmet. This can result in an overall increase in risk rather than a decrease. In order to address risk compensation, it is important to design safety interventions that take into account the potential for individuals to adjust their behavior in response to perceived risk. This may involve providing incentives for safe behavior, designing interventions that are tailored to individuals' level of experience, and carefully considering the unintended consequences of safety policies.
risk compensation, incentives, experience, unintended consequences, safety interventions
Risk compensation is a psychological phenomenon where people change their behavior when they feel that their risk of harm is reduced. It's kind of like a cognitive bias that causes people to take more risks because they feel safer. For example, if you are wearing a helmet when riding a bike, you might feel more comfortable going faster than you would if you weren't wearing a helmet. Risk compensation is important to consider when it comes to making decisions that have a risk attached to them.
Risk adjustment, risk mitigation, risk-taking behavior, risk aversion.
CITATION : "Thomas Lee. 'Risk Compensation.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=214292 (Accessed on August 02, 2025)"
Risk compensation is a cognitive bias wherein human beings adjust their behavior in response to perceived risk levels. This means that when individuals perceive a higher risk, they will adjust their behavior in an effort to reduce the risk; conversely, when the perceived risk is lower, individuals will adjust their behavior to increase the risk. This phenomenon is associated with the concept of heuristics, whereby individuals rely on mental shortcuts to make decisions rather than systematic processing. Risk compensation is often seen in the context of safety regulations, wherein individuals tend to take higher risks when they feel more secure, despite the fact that the actual risk has not changed.
Risk-taking, safety perception, heuristics, logical fallacies, cognitive biases.
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