Impatient and risk-tolerant people more often become criminals

There is a broad consensus that some people have stronger social and financial incentives to commit crimes than others do. Yet, people who face the same incentives can also make different choices because they have different preferences. This means that they weigh the costs and benefits of committing a criminal action differently.

Researchers from the Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality at the University of Copenhagen have therefore tested the assumption that character traits such as risk tolerance and impatience are more prevalent among criminals. According to the researchers, willingness to take risks turns out to be a key characteristic of many criminals.

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