Romantic motives and risk-taking: an evolutionary approach

Abstract

Risk-taking behavior is puzzling insofar as it may involve considerable losses (such as increased mortality rates). The present research advances an evolutionary account of risk-taking behavior in that one of its main functions is to get access to potential mating partners. Inasmuch as reproductive competition among men is more pronounced than among women, men in particular are expected to take risks in order to gain sexual access to women. In fact, four studies revealed that activating a mating goal was associated with men’s propensity to risk-taking. Across a wide range of different risk-taking domains, a romantic motive increased men’s reported willingness to take risks. In contrast, women’s risk-taking was not affected by activating a mating motive. These findings suggest that risk-taking behavior has (in part) been evolved to enhance an individual’s ability to attract a mate.