Does pressure from the work community increase risk taking?

Abstract

Based on the zero-risk theory, it was assumed that the pressure created by the work community is an "extra motive" for increased risk taking. The pressure from the work community was operationalized as the influence of coworkers, foremen, and customers. A risk-taking scale was constructed based on the interviews of 72 victims of serious occupational accidents. Analysis did not confirm the hypothesis because there was no significant difference between risk takers and risk avoiders in the influence of coworkers, foremen, and customers. The pressure of the work community may not be such an "extra motive" as the zero-risk theory assumes.