Recklessness (psychology)

Recklessness (also called unchariness) is disregard for or indifference to the dangers of a situation or for the consequences of one's actions, as in deciding to act without stopping to think beforehand. Aristotle considered such rashness as one (excessive) end of a continuum, with courage as the mean, cowardice as the deficit vice.^[1] Recklessness has been linked to antisocial personality disorder.^[2]

Origins

"Reck" is a regard or reckoning, particularly of a situation. A reckless individual would engage in an activity without concern for its after-effects. It can in certain cases be seen as heroic—for example, the soldier fearlessly charging into battle, with no care for his own safety, has a revered status among some. However, recklessness is more commonly regarded as a vice—this same soldier may be a liability to his own side, or get himself killed for no benefit – and may be the product of a death wish.^[3]

Motivation

The driving-force behind recklessness may be a need to test fate - an attempt to bolster a sense of omnipotence or of special privileges.^[4]

Or it may be due to a loss of the feeling of anxiety,^[5] to a denial of it,^[6] or to an attempt to overcompensate for it.^[7]

Similarly dare-devils may overcompensate for an inhibited aggressiveness, while narcissists may enjoy a feeling that nothing can happen to them,^[8] as too what Aristotle termed the maniac.^[9]

Bravery

Recklessness should not be confused with bravery. Although the two could sometimes be connected, the latter is usually applied to cases where a person displays a more reasonable reckoning of the inherent danger, rather than none at all.

See also

References