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