A study has found wearing safety equipment encourages dangerous risk taking behaviour, even in unrelated activities
Dr Ian Walker and Dr Tim Gamble from the University of Bath’s department of psychology came to the controversial conclusion that wearing safety equipment – in this instance a cycling helmet – increases our desire to take risks.
80 participants, who believe they were going to be taking part in an eye-tracking experiment, were split into two groups; half wore a baseball cap and the other a bicycle helmet. The test involved the subjects inflating a balloon. Each inflation allowed the participants to earn money. They were allowed to bank this money at any point during the experiment. If however the balloon burst they would lose all their earnings.
The individuals desire to inflate the balloon whilst aware of the potential risk of it bursting was most prevalent with those wearing bicycle helmets.
The results were a surprise to the researchers. Walker admitted a puzzlement to the findings. ‘The helmet could make zero difference to the outcome, but people wearing one seemed to take more risks in what was essentially a gambling task’ he said.
The study has called into question the preventative methods safety equipment has to the public – including cyclists and soldiers during conflict. Dr Walker added ‘This could mean that people using protective equipment might take risks against which that protective equipment cannot be reasonably expected to help’
Dr Gamble was quick to add: ‘this is not to say that people shouldn’t wear safety equipment but rather to say that the whole topic is far from complicated than most people think’
Do you feel more likely to take risks when you feel safe? We’d like to hear from you:
