Social Aspirations and Risk-Taking Behavior in Avalanche Terrain
2020
In this analysis, authors explore whether the desire to gain social status is associated with an increased willingness to take risk among backcountry riders. They refer to this factor as "positionality.” Authors hypothesize that if positional preferences drive risk-taking behavior in avalanche terrain, this would be consequential given that the stakes are high and can be fatal.
Their analysis is based on data collected from an online survey with over 600 subjects in North America that asked subjects to make hypothetical choices. They found that positional riders were significantly more likely to “boast about riding bold lines, more likely to associate steep riding with social respect, and more likely to say that they would accept to ride a potentially risky line.” Authors found the positionality effect to be present regardless of level of avalanche training and discuss the implications for avalanche training and education.
Social Aspirations and Risk-Taking Behavior in Avalanche Terrain
Source:
Mannberg A, Hendrikx J, Johnson J. Risky Positioning– Social Aspirations and Risk-Taking Behaviour in Avalanche Terrain. Leisure Studies 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2020.1831046