ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

›› 2010, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (11): 1828-1838.

Previous Articles    

Risk Taking of Males and Females from the Perspective of Evolutionary Psychology

SHAN Wen;JIN Sheng-Hua;ZHANG Wei-Qing;SHENG Rui-Xin   

  1. School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
  • Received:2010-04-26 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2010-11-15 Published:2010-11-15
  • Contact: JIN Sheng-Hua;SHAN Wen

Abstract: Research in evolutionary psychology has found that males take more risk than do females, the male risk–taking helps increase the social facilitation and sex facilitation, and mating motivation and female attractiveness can facilitate male risk-taking behavior. According to the theories of evolutionary psychology, male risk-taking behavior could present his positive features as a potential mate, and thus increase his probability of successful mating. Studies on mating preference have also confirmed that females prefer males who are brave enough to take risks. The authors of this paper argue that in comparison with evolutionary process, social culture should have strong effects on the relationship between female risk-taking and female mating motivation. For example, Chinese women tend to avoid risks in front of males who are attractive to them. The interactive effects of evolutionary psychology and cultural psychology on risk–taking behaviors may be a new focus in future research.

Key words: risk-taking, evolutionary psychology, gender difference, mating, presentation of self