Risk Perception and Belief in Guardian Spirits

David Etkin,Susan Macgregor,Tali Serota,Jelena Ivanova

doi:10.1177/2158244014549741

David Etkin, Susan Macgregor + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014549741

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Abstract

People do not respond directly to the risks around them, but rather to their perception of those risks. These perceptions can be affected by many factors, including the degree to which people feel protected, and within that context beliefs in guardian angels or spirits can be a significant factor in some cases. In a survey of risk perception, it is shown that this belief does correlate with how people perceive risk, but in a complex way that may increase or decrease risk-taking behavior, with the latter being the more dominant theme.

Highlights

The belief that angels can protect people from evil has a long history, for example as shown by the Prayer to St
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Academic Edition, guardian spirits are “supernatural teacher, frequently depicted in animal form, who guides an individual in every important activity through advice and songs; the belief in guardian spirits is widely diffused among the North American Indians.”
The purpose of this research was to investigate relationships between a belief in guardian angels or spirits on risk perception and risk-taking preferences. These beliefs are related to the risk perceptions of some people, and possibly their risk-taking behaviors as a result

Summary

Introduction

The belief that angels can protect people from evil has a long history, for example as shown by the Prayer to St. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia (n.d.), Angels are spiritual beings who are intermediate between God and human beings. Often their role is as a messenger to humankind. In Shamanistic cultures, guardian spirits and spirit helpers empower the shaman with special powers that help him in spiritual journeys or healing (Ellen, 1991). According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Academic Edition, guardian spirits are “supernatural teacher, frequently depicted in animal form, who guides an individual in every important activity through advice and songs; the belief in guardian spirits is widely diffused among the North American Indians.”

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