Fischer, Dominic and Hills, Thomas Trenholm. (2012) The baby effect and young male syndrome : social influences on cooperative risk-taking in women and men. Evolution and Human Behavior, Volume 33 (Number 5). pp. 530-536. ISSN 1090-5138

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Abstract

Parental investment theory predicts differences in risk-taking for females and males as a consequence of reproductive context, with females attempting to reduce risks in relation to their own offspring (here called the baby effect) and males taking more risks in competition with one another (young male syndrome). The experiment we report tests these predictions in a cooperative context by introducing the Social Balloon Analogue Risk Task—the Balloon Analogue Risk Task modified to include a social partner (adult male, adult female, or baby)—along with a commitment device in which participants choose among several possible social partners, with whom they will share their earnings. Results were consistent with the predictions of parental investment theory. Females did not change their levels of risk-taking when paired with adult males or females, but showed a strong reduction in risk when paired with babies. Consistent with previous research, males were strongly inclined to take more risks when paired with another male of the same age, but males showed no change in risk-taking when paired with a female of the same age or a child. The current work provides the first experimental evidence of gender differences in cooperative social risk-taking, as well as the first experimental evidence of a mediator of female risk-taking, i.e., babies.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Risk-taking (Psychology) -- Testing, Risk-taking (Psychology) -- Sex differences, Mother and child -- Psychological aspects
Journal or Publication Title:	Evolution and Human Behavior
Publisher:	Elsevier Inc
ISSN:	1090-5138
Date:	September 2012
Volume:	Volume 33
Number:	Number 5
Page Range:	pp. 530-536
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2012.01.006
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Description:	Corrected proof.
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/49017

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