Review of the following:  Risk-Taking BEHAVIOR. (J. Frank Yates, ed., Wiley 1992) [244 pp.] Acknowledgements, author index, figures, preface, references, series preface, subject index, tables. LC 91-21229, ISBN 0-471-92250-1. [Cloth $64.95. 1 Wiley Drive, Somerset NJ 08875

Field, Juanita V.

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RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)Volume 3Number 3 RISK: Issues in Health & Safety Article 15June 1992Book ReviewJuanita V. FieldFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/riskPart of the Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms CommonsThis Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the University of New Hampshire – School of Law at University of New HampshireScholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002) by an authorized editor of University ofNew Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact ellen.phillips@law.unh.edu.Repository CitationJuanita V. Field, Book Review, 3 RISK 279 (1992).Book ReviewErratumThe citation for this review is 3 RISK 259 (1992) in most commercial databases.This book review is available in RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002): https://scholars.unh.edu/risk/vol3/iss3/15Book Reviews 279RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOR. (J. Frank Yates, ed., Wiley 1992) [244pp.] Acknowledgements, author index, figures, preface, references, series preface,subject index, tables. LC 91-21229, ISBN 0-471-92250-1. [Cloth $64.95. 1 WileyDrive, Somerset NJ 08875.]RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOR delivers on its claim to offer multiple-perspective coverage of the psychological aspects of risk. Chapters dealwith a variety of topics including individual differences, groups, stress,health, accidents, and industrial/organizational applications. In addition,the well-credentialed authors, while drawn mostly from psychology,also represent health and business disciplines.In the first chapter, the editor attempts to identify consensus withinthe far-flung, multi-disciplinary research on risk and concludes: 1At its core, risk is the possibility of loss. There are threeessential risk elements: (a) losses, (b) the significance ofthose losses, and (c) uncertainty associated with thoselosses.... However, it is not entirely clear that the variousacknowledged elements of risk can be consistentlyaggregated to form overall riskThis summary seems to verify immaturity of knowledge of the topic;consensus occurs only at the most superficial level, and there is littleagreement about how to proceed from that point. As a result, the severalpapers depart in widely varied directions, each with its own extensivediscussion of theory and thorough summary of research.The primary emphasis is on theory and, secondarily, use of theoryto explain research, but where theories are not available, some authorshave settled for the precursor of raising issues. Unfortunately, whiletheory is expected to simplify, the issue-raising approach often causesfurther complication.Yet, this attempt to present many facets of the study of risk in onelocation makes neglected areas more noticeable. For example, thechapter on developmental aspects of risk-taking behavior assumes adecision-making perspective and relates this to age, beginning withadolescents. Especially within the context of some particular examples,such as drug use, it would be helpful to begin earlier and consider the1 At23.3 RISK -Issues in Health & Safety 259 [Summer 1992]risk-taking behavior of younger children.As an example of the coverage of the topic, consider the chapter onindividual differences in risk-taking. Bromley and Curley begin byidentifying three questions to be answered: (1) Is risk-taking apersonality trait? (2) What theories may allow description, explanationand prediction of individual differences? (3) What applications flowfrom the research results? This is followed with a description of sixapproaches to the stidy of risk-taking as a "trait," leading to adiscussion of the importance of a situational/trait interaction perspectiveand the identification of four categories of situations (physical sensation,games and lotteries, everyday life, and business). Finally, cross-situational studies are discussed, and the authors conclude that: "Greaterattention to and analysis of situational factors would provide a valuableaddition to our understanding of the role of individual differences in risktaking behavior. ' 2The papers in this book are well-written and readable. Together,they are comprehensive. Touching what seems to be all of the bases,they present an enormous amount of information. The book willprobably be of most use to social scientists, especially psychologists,who are already somewhat familiar with the terms, issues and research,but the chapters on optimality and risk appraisal may be more familiar toreaders in disciplines other than psychology.Yet, anyone interested in risk-taking behavior will benefit from theopportunity that this book affords to become familiar with the broadspan of literature addressing the topic.Juanita V. Fieldt2 At 126.t Dr. Field is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Plymouth State College.

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