Unrealistic optimism and HEXACO traits as predictors of risk perception and compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures during the first wave of pandemic

Oljača, Milan; Sadiković, Selka; Branovački, Bojan; Pajić, Dejan; Smederevac, Snežana; Mitrović, Dušanka

doi:10.31234/osf.io/rt64j

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We conducted three studies examining the mechanisms underlying the effect of power on risky financial decisions. This work is based on previous studies showing that greater power, understood both as a trait and as a state, is linked to riskier financial choices [ 20 , 21 ] and that people with a greater sense of power have a more optimistic perception of their own future and future in general and that an optimistic perception of risky behaviors mediates preferences for risk-taking [ 5 , 36 ]. Their findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying the link between power and risk-taking.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there is a potential drawback to optimism: it can induce a greater tendency to take risks based on positive expectations about the future [ 35 ]. Studies have shown that unrealistic optimism is a predictor of risk perception (e.g., [ 36 ]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, optimists are more likely to invest money than people low in optimism. Specifically, they are more likely to own stocks [ 36 ] and they tend to allocate a larger fraction of their equity wealth to individual stocks [ 37 – 39 ]. Moreover, optimistic investors choose risky portfolios over risk-free portfolios for their investments [ 40 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The effect of state and trait power on financial risk-taking: The mediating and moderating roles of optimism

Sekścińska

Rudzińska-Wojciechowska²,

Jaworska³

2022

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The research aimed to further develop knowledge on the mechanisms that enhance risk-taking propensities among powerful people. Three studies (N1 = 328, N2 = 388, N3 = 267) investigated the role of optimism in the relationship between sense of power and financial risk-taking, controlling for the state of power. Study 1, correlational, analyzed whether the relationship between sense of power and risky financial choices is serially mediated by general optimism and financial risk perception. The results confirmed the initial hypotheses. The second, experimental, study investigated the role of states of power and lack of power in explaining people’s financial decisions as well as their influence on people’s situational optimism and perception of risk. The results indicated that people in a state of power differed from people lacking power in terms of their situational optimism and the riskiness of their financial choices; however, they did not differ in terms of risk perception. People having power were more optimistic, invested more, and made riskier gambling choices than those in control conditions and those who lacked power. The third, experimental, study investigated the single and joint moderating effects of the states of optimism and power in explaining the positive relationship between sense of power and risky investing and gambling choices. In line with our expectations, the results of the study showed that the states of power and optimism jointly moderated the positive relationship between the sense of power and risky financial choices. This effect was the strongest under the state of power and optimism conditions and the weakest when lack of power and pessimism were induced; thus boundary conditions for previously observed mechanisms were identified. The results of the research shed light on the way optimism mediates and moderates the effect of power on financial risk-taking and thus contributes to theoretical knowledge of the consequences of power.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The effect of state and trait power on financial risk-taking: The mediating and moderating roles of optimism

Sekścińska

Rudzińska-Wojciechowska²,

Jaworska³

2022

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Studies employing the HEXACO framework in COVID-19 are fewer than the Five-Factor model, and results have tended to replicate. For instance, emotionality is associated with worry and anxiety and higher levels of conscientiousness with behavioral compliance and the likelihood of stockpiling goods (Bentall et al, 2021; Oljača et al, 2020; Zettler et al, 2021). Emotionality is linked to stronger perceptions of COVID-related threat and, indirectly, to stockpiling behavior as individuals attempt to ameliorate their fear.…”

Section: Hexacomentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotional and Behavioral Responses to COVID-19

Bacon

Krupić

Çaki

et al. 2021

European Psychologist

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. This review appraises evidence for the role of personality in COVID-19 related emotions and behaviors. Three key models of personality are considered: the Five-factor Model, HEXACO model, and Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST). In line with personality research, more generally, most studies focus on the Five-Factor model. Key findings are that neuroticism is most associated with poor mental health, and extraversion is associated with a reluctance to socially isolate. Conscientiousness predicts compliance with safety guidelines but also with fewer prosocial behaviors, particularly stockpiling. Research within the HEXACO framework largely confirms these findings, especially for emotionality and mental health. The additional HEXACO Honesty-Humility factor is found to be associated with prosocial views and abstention from panic buying. Studies based on the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of personality indicate emotional conflict as people wish to stay safe while maintaining a sense of normality. Behavioral compliance is driven by activation in the Fight-Flight-Freeze System (FFFS; fear-related) and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS; anxiety-related). The Behavioral Approach System (BAS) is implicated in approach-driven behaviors such as avoiding infection. These findings have implications for health communications and post-pandemic support.

show abstract

“…Further research results also point to the implications of the positive bias for health-related behaviours (13,14). According to Oljača and colleagues (15), the optimistic bias may indeed influence attitudes towards compliance with restrictions. In a study conducted in Serbia, the participants who scored higher on the UOS–NLE subscale (measuring unrealistic optimism towards negative life events) assessed the risk connected with COVID-19 infection as lower and declared lower compliance with the pandemic restrictions.…”

Section: Unrealistic Optimism During the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unrealistic optimism in the eye of the storm: Positive bias towards the consequences of COVID-19 during the second and third waves of the pandemic

Maksim

Śpiewak

Lipp

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Research conducted at the outset of the pandemic shows that people are vulnerable to unrealistic optimism (UO). However, the Weinstein model suggests that this tendency may not persist as the pandemic progresses. Our research aimed at verifying whether UO persists during the second (Study 1) and the third wave (Study 2) of the pandemic in Poland, whether it concerns the assessment of the chances of COVID-19 infection (Study 1 and Study 2), the chances of severe course of the disease and adverse vaccine reactions (Study 2). We show that UO towards contracting COVID-19 persists throughout the pandemic. However, in situations where we have little influence on the occurrence of the event, the participants do not show UO. The exceptions are those who have known personally someone who has died from a coronavirus infection. These results are discussed in terms of self-esteem protection and the psychological threat reduction mechanism.

show abstract

Unrealistic optimism and HEXACO traits as predictors of risk perception and compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures during the first wave of pandemic

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

The effect of state and trait power on financial risk-taking: The mediating and moderating roles of optimism

The effect of state and trait power on financial risk-taking: The mediating and moderating roles of optimism

Emotional and Behavioral Responses to COVID-19

Unrealistic optimism in the eye of the storm: Positive bias towards the consequences of COVID-19 during the second and third waves of the pandemic

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About