Sensation Seeking, Physiological Arousal, and Emotion Regulation Predict Risk-Taking Behavior? A Preliminary Flight-Simulation Study

Occupational ApplicationsThis preliminary flight-simulation study explored the drivers of risk-taking behavior among trainee pilots. We found that trainee pilots' risk-taking behavior increased with higher sensation seeking (particularly the experience seeking and disinhibition subscales), and decreased with elevated physiological arousal. Meanwhile, resting physiological emotion regulation was also negatively correlated with such risk-taking behavior. These initial findings clarify the associations between trait-level psychological characteristics, physiological state indicators, and trainee pilots' risk-taking in the simulated flight context. This work provides preliminary foundational reference evidence to support future large-scale in-flight validation research, which can inform the development of standardized, evidence-based guidelines for pilot personnel evaluation, targeted risk-mitigation training, and physiological arousal monitoring protocols in civil aviation.