C036

Physical Risk Tolerance

B04 Threat & Self-preservation
Core LayerMML-1

Version v1.3.2

Definition

Willingness to accept bodily/physical risk: speed, height, injury-prone activities, health threats.

Poles

Each HES element is a spectrum, not a category: the Low and High poles describe how it presents at its two extremes, while the Reference marks the typical, everyday middle. The poles map variation across the range — neither end is inherently better or worse.

Low Pole

Physical risk aversion: physical risk is hard to tolerate; many activities are avoided and braking occurs early.

High Pole

Physical risk is tolerated easily; the person engages in riskier activities and is less intimidated by bodily threat.

Reference

Accepts risk with preparation and control; avoids pointless risk.

Measure

Upper acceptable physical risk bound: the level of danger a person will accept for goal or enjoyment.

Measuring Methods

• Activity-choice scenarios with graded injury probability.
• Behavioral markers: sport choices, speed, safety compliance.
• Self-report validated against real behavior.

Empirical Anchor

Physical risk tolerance / sensation seeking — thrill subscale (Zuckerman, 1979); risk-taking propensity.

Notes

• Not “general courage”: one may be physically risk-tolerant and socially risk-averse, or vice versa.
• Risks at MIN: reduced activity range, impoverished embodied experience.
• Risks at MAX: injury rates, ignoring bodily warning signals.

Citation

APA

Human Elements System. (2026). Physical Risk Tolerance (HES Passport C036, v1.3.2). hestable.com. https://hestable.com/passport/C036

BibTeX

@misc{hes_C036, author = {{Human Elements System}}, title = {{Physical Risk Tolerance}}, year = {2026}, note = {HES Passport C036, v1.3.2}, howpublished = {\url{https://hestable.com/passport/C036}} }