Among cognitive radio networks there is a persistent trend of competition to acquire under-utilized and idle channels for data transmission. The competition for spectrum resources often results in the misuse of the spectrum resources as networks experience contention in attempt to access unoccupied spectrum bands. The competitive scenario causes cognitive radio networks to incur a huge amount of loss, which constitutes a major problem of self-coexistence among networks. As a way to minimize these losses we present a self-coexistence mechanism that allows cognitive radio networks to coexist with each other by implementing a risk-motivated channel selection based on deference structure. Cognitive radio networks form deference structure community to have more efficient access to a channel of interest and can defer transmission to one another on that channel, thereby minimizing the chances of conflicts. As part of the decision making process to become a member of a deference structure community, cognitive radio networks rely on a risk-motivated channel selection scheme to evaluate the tentative deference structure channel. We provide numerical and simulation results that demonstrates the benefits of the proposed self-coexistence mechanism and show how it helps networks to coordinate their spectrum activities, minimize contention experienced and improve their utility. We also emphasize on the importance of the deference structure community size with regards to the average performance of member networks. Among cognitive radio networks there is a persistent trend of competition to acquire under-utilized and idle channels for data transmission. The competition for spectrum resources often results in the misuse of the spectrum resources as networks experience contention in attempt to access unoccupied spectrum bands. competitive scenario causes cognitive radio networks to incur a huge amount of loss, which makes a major problem of self-coexistence among networks. As a way to minimize these losses we present a self-coexistence mechanism that allows cognitive radio networks to coexist with each other by implementing a risk-motivated channel selection based on deference structure. Cognitive radio networks form deference structure community to have more efficient access to a channel of interest and can defer transmission to one another on that channel, minimizing the chances of conflicts. As part of the decision making process to become a member of a deference structure comm unity, cognitive radio networks rely on a risk-motivated channel selection scheme to evaluate the tentative deference structure channel. We provide numerical and simulation results that demonstrates said the benefits of the proposed self-coexistence mechanism and show how it helps networks to coordinate their spectrum activities , minimize contention experienced and improve their utility. We also emphasize on the importance of the deference structure community size with regards to the average performance of member networks.