What makes some people risk-seeking and others risk-averse? We investigate whether the availability of processing resources moderates the relationship between temperament and risk preference. Furthermore, we examine the moderating role of processing resources between temperament and risk taking developmentally, in younger children (aged 6), older children (aged 9), and adults. The findings are discussed in relation to theories of risky decision making that posit dual cognitive-affective appraisal processes, specifically the "risk-as-feelings" hypothesis of Loewenstein and colleagues (2001). The current findings lend support to the theoretical claims of dual-process models of risk taking. When cognitive resources are restricted there is an increased reliance on automatic, emotional responses to the risky decision task.