Risk-taking propensity and emotional intelligence: an emotional version of the balloon analogue risk task (BART)

Abstract

Introduction It is well known that emotions guide decision-making processes in risk contexts. Several studies in the literature have showed the influence of emotions on risk-taking using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Objectives The aim this research was to investigate the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) levels on the impact of emotions in risk-taking propensity assessed by the BART. Methods To this end, we developed a variant of the BART in wich each balloon displayed a face with an emotional expression: happiness, fear, or neutral. EI was assessed from the performance-based ability model by the MSCEIT. The sample consisted of 120 participants (Mage = 21.52; 80% women). Results A repeated measures ANOVA revealed a higher tendency to take risks when happy faces were presented, compared to the fear and neutral conditions. Moreover, participants with higher levels of EI showed a lower tendency to take risks across all emotional conditions. This relationship was particularly strong in the fear faces. Conclusions Our findings support the effect of incidental emotions on risk-taking and suggest the role of EI as a protective factor for risk engagement. Disclosure of Interest None Declared