Sex Differences in Everyday Risk-Taking Behavior in Humans

1. Pawlowski, B. B., Atwal, R., & Dunbar, R. M. (2008). Sex differences in everyday risk-taking behavior in humans. Evolutionary Psychology, 6(1), 29-42. Sex Differences in Everyday Risk-Taking Behavior in Humans By Annelise Lorenzo, Brea Talsness, Jenna Tioseco

2. Previous studies have shown that males are more prone to taking risks in regards to conflict, sexual behavior, driving, accident risk taking, drugs, financial decisions, and outdoor activities.   • Females find risk taking more stressful.   • Powlowski and Atwal (2008) studied the sex differences in risk taking behavior in two everyday examples: -Catching the bus and crossing the road.   • Two issues were examined in this study.   -First, they examine trade-offs between costs and benefits of two courses of action -Secondly, to explore the extent that risk-taking is a form of mating display for males.   Introduction: Pawlowski, B. B., Atwal, R., & Dunbar, R. M. (2008). Sex differences in everyday risk-taking behavior in humans. Evolutionary Psychology, 6(1), 29-42.

3. The first study : bus stop • Observations were made on the bus • A sample : 20 mornings over a four-month period • The arrival times of 475 females and 524 males were recorded • The second study: busy road crossing • Participants were selected as they approached the crossing • Recorded the following: sex, approximate age (by decade), risk state of road on approach, whether the subject crossed or waited, risk state of the road when the subject crossed, whether the participant was a leader or a follower when he/she crossed, number and sexes of all individuals on the subject’s side of the crossing point at the moment he/she is crossed. • A total of 500 males and 500 females were sampled in this way.. Methods: Pawlowski, B. B., Atwal, R., & Dunbar, R. M. (2008). Sex differences in everyday risk-taking behavior in humans. Evolutionary Psychology, 6(1), 29-42.

4. Optimizing bus waiting time -Females were more likely to arrive in groups than were males (42.0% vs. 28.6% respectively). -Males arriving alone did so significantly later than females arriving alone. -Females arriving alone were significantly more likely to arrive during the cautious period, whereas males arriving alone were more likely to arrive during the risky period (p = 0.001). Road-crossing -Males were significantly more likely to cross the road at higher risk states than females (p < 0.001). -Males were less likely to wait than females, and this difference was true at each risk state except the lowest: no risk. -Overall, males were also more likely to initiate crossing the road than were females (p < 0.001) at all risk levels except very risky (p >0.05). Results: Pawlowski, B. B., Atwal, R., & Dunbar, R. M. (2008). Sex differences in everyday risk-taking behavior in humans. Evolutionary Psychology, 6(1), 29-42.

5. Males are more likely than females to take risks even in everyday situations • Male risk-proneness is related to the number of females in the immediate vicinity • Males later arrival time suggests • It is a form of display • Males are more reluctant to waste time • Genetic advertising hypothesis supported: male risk taking during road crossings was affected by the presence of female spectators • Females not significantly affected by the presence of males Discussion Pawlowski, B. B., Atwal, R., & Dunbar, R. M. (2008). Sex differences in everyday risk-taking behavior in humans. Evolutionary Psychology, 6(1), 29-42.

6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voOjIPLxnoQ Video Pawlowski, B. B., Atwal, R., & Dunbar, R. M. (2008). Sex differences in everyday risk-taking behavior in humans. Evolutionary Psychology, 6(1), 29-42.