The purpose of the study was to examine the relation between mental co
nstruals of risk-related behaviour and self-reported behaviour perform
ance (ie. car-speeding). The study is integrative theoretically buildi
ng upon Personal Construct Theory and conceptual frameworks developed
in emotion research. Construals of speeding and non-speeding were meas
ured by 15 semantic differential scales, comprising both cognitive asp
ects (e.g. control and risk perception) and emotional aspects (e.g. fe
ar, happiness) (N=1075). Construals were found to be organised within
a two-dimensional structure, interpreted as basically affective. Repor
ted speeding behaviour was related to both dimensions of construal, an
d construals of both the risk behaviour and the alternative behaviour
had independent effects upon behaviour (Multiple R=0.65, P<0.001). Int
erpretation of the results focuses on the underlying affective qualiti
es of the construals as motivators in the process of risk behaviour ge
neration. A Model of Affectively Construed Action (MACA), comprising t
he notion of emotional cybernetics, is proposed as a framework for und
erstanding risk behaviour. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.