Question 5 of 24
How much of a daredevil are you? (1 = bubble-wrapped · 10 = 'hold my drink')
The short answer
Personality research links higher trait risk-taking and sensation-seeking to greater engagement in risky behaviours — risky driving, substance use — which are themselves established contributors to injury and early death, especially in adolescence and young adulthood. No verified pooled estimate connecting general risk-taking propensity directly to all-cause mortality was found during this review, so no number is quoted.
"Hold my drink, watch this"
💀 A grim little fact
Here's the stat that surprises people: for everyone aged 1 to 44, the leading cause of death isn't cancer or heart disease — it's unintentional injuries, aka accidents (CDC). For the younger end, that's mostly car crashes; a bit later, it tilts toward poisoning and overdose.
In other words: in your prime, the thing most likely to end you isn't a disease patiently building up. It's a Tuesday, a bad decision, and gravity.
🔮 Myth vs. Morty
Myth: "It won't happen to me." This is the single most common last thought in recorded history. The Darwin Awards exist precisely because confidence is not a safety feature. Adrenaline feels like invincibility; it is, chemically, just your body preparing to run from something it already thinks might kill you.
Morty loves a thrill-seeker. They keep his numbers up.
Sources: CDC WISQARS / Injury Center · Entertainment only — not medical advice.
Risk-taking and accidental death: what the evidence shows
Last reviewed · compiled by the ExpireOnDate editorial team · not medically reviewed
What the research shows
The Western Electric Study followed male manufacturing employees for 45 years, examining MMPI-based personality factor scales, including risk-related traits, against long-term mortality.
male manufacturing employees · United States · prospective cohort study, 45-year follow-up · PubMed listing
What it does not show
Specific hazard ratios linking risk-taking or sensation-seeking to all-cause mortality could not be confirmed from primary sources during this review. The link is in any case likely to be indirect, running through behaviour such as risky driving rather than being a biological risk factor in its own right.
Every figure on this page describes a population, not a person. Associations measured across thousands of people cannot tell any individual how long they will live, and nothing here is medical advice. If something on this page concerns you, talk to a doctor rather than a comedy website.
References
- The MMPI factor scales and risk of death in men during 45 years of follow-up: The Western Electric study. PubMed listing. secondary reporting; accessed 2026-08-15.
Spotted an error or a better source? Tell us — corrections are logged and the review date updated.