TY - JOUR
T1 - Impulsive choice and workplace safety
T2 - A new area of inquiry for research in occupational settings
AU - Reynolds, Brady
AU - Schiffbauer, Ryan M.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - A conceptual argument is presented for the relevance of behavior-analytic research on impulsive choice to issues of occupational safety and health. Impulsive choice is defined in terms of discounting, which is the tendency for the value of a commodity to decrease as a function of various parameters (e.g., having to wait or expend energy to receive the commodity). A high degree of discounting is often considered an index of impulsivity. We argue that for workers, possible negative consequences (e.g., injury or disease) are often disregarded, or discounted, in choices about work-place safety because such consequences are typically delayed and uncertain. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that certain environmental conditions, such as those that lead to stress or sleep deprivation, may increase discounting. Increased discounting, by extension, leads to a further de-valuation of safety practices and their benefits. A call is made for research aimed at more clearly delineating the relation between impulsive choice and workplace safety.
AB - A conceptual argument is presented for the relevance of behavior-analytic research on impulsive choice to issues of occupational safety and health. Impulsive choice is defined in terms of discounting, which is the tendency for the value of a commodity to decrease as a function of various parameters (e.g., having to wait or expend energy to receive the commodity). A high degree of discounting is often considered an index of impulsivity. We argue that for workers, possible negative consequences (e.g., injury or disease) are often disregarded, or discounted, in choices about work-place safety because such consequences are typically delayed and uncertain. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that certain environmental conditions, such as those that lead to stress or sleep deprivation, may increase discounting. Increased discounting, by extension, leads to a further de-valuation of safety practices and their benefits. A call is made for research aimed at more clearly delineating the relation between impulsive choice and workplace safety.
KW - Choice
KW - Discounting
KW - Health
KW - Impulsivity
KW - Occupational safety
KW - Workers
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U2 - 10.1007/BF03393183
DO - 10.1007/BF03393183
M3 - Article
C2 - 22478432
AN - SCOPUS:11244266300
SN - 0738-6729
VL - 27
SP - 239
EP - 246
JO - Behavior Analyst
JF - Behavior Analyst
IS - 2
ER -