Explaining contradictory relations between risk perception and risk taking

ABSTRACT—Different studies have documented opposite rela-tions between perceived risk and behavior. The present study tested a theoretical explanation that reconciles these con-flicting results. Adolescents (N 5 596) completed alternative measures of riskperception that differed in cue specificity and response format. As predicted by fuzzy-trace theory, mea-sures that emphasized verbatim retrieval and quantitative processing produced positive correlations between perceived risk and risky behavior; risk perceptions reflected the extent to which adolescents engaged in risky behavior. In contrast, measures that assessed global, gist-based judgments of risk produced negative correlations; higher risk perceptions were associated with less risk taking, a protective rather than re-flective relation. Endorsement of simple values and principles provided the greatest protection against risk taking. Result