Risky positioning – social aspirations and risk-taking behaviour in avalanche terrain

ABSTRACT

We test if positionality, i.e., the desire to gain social status, is associated with an increased willingness to take risk among backcountry riders. If positional preferences drive risk-taking behaviour in avalanche terrain, this is especially problematic because the stakes are high and can be fatal. Our analysis is based on data for hypothetical choices from an online survey (N = 648) in North America. We find that positional riders are 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. The positionality effect is present regardless of level of avalanche training. We discuss implications for avalanche training and education.

KEYWORDS:

• Positional preferences
• risk-taking behaviour
• social norms
• avalanche
• decision-making
• outdoor recreation

Data availability statement

We are willing to share the anonymized data used for analysis in this study. https://doi.org/10.18710/UHPYAB

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. We have also estimated Logistic regressions on all models. The results are qualitatively the same. All results are available from the corresponding author upon request.

2. The semi-parametric model does not converge when we include both age and age squared in the regression. It should therefore be noted that age only enters linearly in the semi-parametric model.

3. The results are robust to inclusion of the social and personal norm variables. However, social norms related to safety introduces heteroscedasticity in the model.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Norwegian Research Council, under Grant (dnr) 262626.

Notes on contributors

Andrea Mannberg

Andrea Mannberg is a professor in economics. Her speciality is decision-making and risk-taking behaviour.

Jordy Hendrikx

Jordy Hendrikx is an associate professor in geography. His speciality is snow science and decision-making in avalanche terrain.

Jerry Johnson

Jerry Johnson is a professor in political science. His speciality is use of public lands and decision-making in avalanche terrain.