The Neuroscience of Risky Decision Making

Whether the decision is to have unprotected sex, consent to surgery, spend rather than save for retirement, or have an extra piece of pie, risky decisions permeate our lives, sometimes with disastrous consequences. How and why risk taking occurs has important implications, yet many questions remain about how various factors influence decision-making. The factors that influence risky decision making have been studied from different perspectives, particularly neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics. This pioneering book brings together leading scholars from all of these disciplines to encourage the development of a model of risky decision making that incorporates all relevant research.