The differences between deliberate and precautionary risk takers based on their associations with sensation seeking

Abstract

High risk sports participants are considered to be risk takers and sensation seekers. Populations of high risk sports athletes are often described as a homogenous risk taking group. As the results of this study have shown, risk taking attitudes vary amongst athletes within a single sport, and one cannot assume homogeneity amongst rock climbers. The research aimed to classify rock climbers as risk takers according to the Risk Taking Inventory and to assess whether they differ with regards to their associations with sensation seeking. A quantitative study, using an exploratory design was used to understand the risk taking groups and establish their relationship with sensation seeking. Rock climbers from the Mountain Club of South Africa and the City Rock gym in Randburg were invited to participate in the research and a final sample size of 70 research participants was obtained. The participants completed a set of assessment measures including a demographic questionnaire, the Risk Taking Inventory and the Sensation Seeking Scale-V. Non-parametric statistics were conducted and the results revealed that the rock climbers could be divided into two risk taking groups, namely Deliberate Risk Takers and Precautionary Risk Takers. Statistically significant differences were found between the two risk taking groups on the Sensation Seeking Scale-V scale and its subscales. Both groups showed strong positive correlations between the Total Sensation Seeking Scale and three of the subscales, including Experience Seeking, Disinhibition and Boredom Susceptibility. Future studies should take into account regional variances and explore the differences between the sub-disciplines of rock climbing and assess whether they differ on the Risk Taking Inventory and their associations with sensation seeking.