Abstract
Common theoretical models of risky and impulsive behaviors suggest that individuals engage in risky behavior to avoid negative affect or enhance positive affect. However, little research has been done to identify person-centered affective profiles of risky and impulsive behavior, and delineate the individual differences across these profiles. The present study used the Risky, Impulsive, and Self-destructive Behavior Questionnaire in community (N = 439) and incarcerated (N = 262) samples to examine latent affect profiles for risky and impulsive behavior. Four affective profiles emerged: low avoidance and low approach, average avoidance and average approach, high avoidance, and high approach. Conditional probability correlations revealed meaningful differences across these profiles in psychiatric symptomatology, personality characteristics, and behavior. Consideration of affective triggers provides an important framework for dissociating the underlying reasons why individuals engage in risky behavior.
Highlights
Risky and impulsive behavior encompasses a range of acts from speeding to substance misuse to aggression
Engagement in risky and impulsive behaviors emerges in a wide variety of circumstances, but especially when individuals are in negative mood states or are influenced by immediate temptations (Loewenstein et al, 2001; Weiss et al, 2012)
Using the Risky, Impulsive, and Self-destructive Behavior Questionnaire (Sadeh and Baskin-Sommers, 2016), we developed latent profiles of affective triggers for risky and impulsive behavior in an unselected sample of community members
Summary
Risky and impulsive behavior encompasses a range of acts from speeding to substance misuse to aggression. These behaviors exact staggering costs by increasing the likelihood of premature death, long-term disability, and poor mental health outcomes (Moffitt et al, 2011; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). The enormity of the problems risky and impulsive behavior brings to the individual and society at-large underscores the importance of identifying the factors that spur on these behaviors. Engagement in risky and impulsive behaviors emerges in a wide variety of circumstances, but especially when individuals are in negative mood states or are influenced by immediate temptations (Loewenstein et al, 2001; Weiss et al, 2012). Common theoretical models of risky and impulsive behavior identify two primary triggers: (1) to reduce or relieve negative affective states, such as extreme distress, sadness, or anger (i.e., “avoid” trigger; Whiteside et al, 2005; Leyro et al, 2010; Nock, 2010), and (2) to increase positive affective states, such as pleasurable or thrilling experiences (i.e., “approach” trigger; Horvath and Zuckerman, 1993; Zuckerman and Kuhlman, 2000)
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