Christakis, Nicolas <br/><br/>
Risk-taking and the search for limits: The example of motorcycle sport 

 -  2003.<br/>							 
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<br/><br/> This paper presents research findings on a particular type of risky behavior: motorbike speeding on roads. The goal of the research was to understand how and why subjects take risks and court danger in practice. The discussion stems from ongoing research based on in-depth interviews with subjects involved in fast motorcycle driving, and on participant observation. The qualitative analysis revealed that driving at very high speed constitutes a type of ritualistic re-definition of personal boundaries and “upgrading” of the self. A dual pleasure is involved in fast driving: one derived from experimenting with personal limits and therefore expanding boundaries, and another derived from the satisfaction of controlling risk, reality, and the possibility of death.