Abstract ID: 3.9029 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

A fundamental challenge in decision-making under uncertainty is distinguishing between exogenous risks—those determined by external factors—and endogenous risks—those shaped by individual behavior. Avalanche accidents and backcountry recreation provide a real-world setting to illustrate this distinction. While avalanche risk is influenced by natural factors such as snowfall, individual behavioral responses to avalanche risk information, like terrain selection, endogenously alter both the probability and severity of avalanche-related accidents. This interaction between behavior and risk provides a framework for teaching students how decision-making can mitigate or exacerbate risks. Beyond avalanche safety, the concept of endogenous versus exogenous risk has broad applications, including finance, public health, and climate.