If you had an angel walking beyond you, would you be more reckless or more cautious?

It's surprising how many people believe that guardian angels watch over them to keep them safe in a dangerous world, and it's even more surprising that those who believe are actually less inclined to take risks despite this protection. 

Scholars David Etkin, Jelena Ivanova, Susan MacGregor and Alalia Spektor surveyed 198 individuals and found that of those who believe in guardian angels, 68% said that this belief affects how they take risks. 

Cortona guardian angel. Image: fishermore.edu

While some expressed that the belief in guardian angels might make them more risky, the majority are more averse to taking risks than their non-believing counterparts. For example, when asked to provide their opinion about risky driving, the majority of those who do not believe in guardian angels felt that driving 20 km/h over the speed limit was a risk level of two on a scale of one to five, while the majority of those who do believe in guardian angels believed that it was a risk level of three.

"It may be that people who have a tendency to view the world as being risky or potentially dangerous are more inclined to have a belief in personal guardian spirits," the researchers commented.