Risk-Taking,Justifiability,Recklessness,and Responsibility

Abstract

The role of risk and justification in perceptions of recklessness and attributions of responsibility and blame were examined in a 2 x 2factorial design. Subjects read a scenario in which an ambulance driver struck a child while speeding or driving slowly to the hospital with a patient who had suffered either a broken leg or a heart attack. The driver who was speeding for insufficient justification was considered more reckless, blameworthy, and deserving of punishment than was the driver in the other three conditions. Recklessness, responsibility, blame, and support of punishment were positively correlated with one another, and all of these variables were correlated negatively with perceived justification.

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