Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Risk Aversion

It is interesting to contemplate why we are entertained by scary movies, or are compelled to take recreational risks, or gamble. There must be some psychological principle that causes dsome people to seek out the experience of risk. It is reasonable to contemplate that the survival of early man was dependent onn risky activities; that hunting food required encounters with dangerous animals, or journeys across perilous terrain. It is quite likely that the overly risk-averse starved or otherwise were inhibited by their timidity. Now however, risk aversion seems to be the new national creed. Administrative decisions are made foremost with regard to avoiding liability. Nanny-state government proscribe any number of activities because of the modest risk they might entail to consenting adults. Socialist-sounding policies are intended primarily to mitigate the risk of economic misfortune by homogenizing in a society that lacks self confidence or pay the price of success. It is quite possible that some of our ancestors died of the malady of risk aversion, and it is quite possible that such will be the fate of our society.