Differentiating passive from active risk taking: the role of self-control and time perspective

Passive risks are risks brought on, or magnified, by inaction (e.g., not getting vaccinated). They differ from active risks, which are incurred by actions people take, that put them at risk (such as smoking). Although (active) risk taking has been extensively studied, much less is known about passive risk taking and the personal tendencies associated with such behavior. We propose two individual traits—self-control (SC) and time perspective—that affect the inclination to take passive and active risks, albeit in distinct ways, contributing to the differentiation between the two types of risks. In four studies, we examine a model that suggests that a future time perspective mediates the association between SC and passive risk taking, while a present-hedonistic time perspective mediates the association between SC and active risk taking. The findings, based on both self-report questionnaires and actual behavior, support the model and its theoretical basis. Implications and future direction are discussed.