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Daring to Be Darling: Attractiveness of Risk Takers as Partners in Long- and Short-Term Sexual Relationships

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Abstract

In an attempt to explain gender differences in risk taking from an evolutionary perspective, this study examined the attractiveness of risk taking in potential mates. Questionnaire data from a sample of 352 primarily undergraduate students at Liverpool University, U.K., provided participants’ ratings of physical, social and financial risk-taking and risk-avoiding profiles in terms of attractiveness for long- and short-term relationships. As well as showing a considerable variation in the ratings of different types of risk, we found that the relationship type affected male and female preferences in a similar fashion. Both genders rated risk avoiders as more attractive than risk takers in the context of long-term relationships. In contrast, for short-term relationships men and women preferred risk takers over risk avoiders.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Craig Roberts for advice on preparing the questionnaire, Mr Bartek Lisek for assistance with transferring the data in SPSS, Dr Thomas Pollet for statistical support, Ms Alicia Cresswell, Ms Willemijn Spoor and Mr Benjamin Wilson for language support. We also thank the editor and two anonymous referees who provided feedback that greatly improved the previous version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Behaviour & Evolution, Institute of Neuroscience, Henry Wellcome Building, Medical School, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK

    Karolina Sylwester

  2. Department of Anthropology, University of Wrocław, ul. Kuźnicza 35, 50-138, Wrocław, Poland

    Bogusław Pawłowski

  3. Institute of Anthropology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Kuźnicza 35, 50-138, Wrocław, Poland

    Bogusław Pawłowski

Authors
  1. Karolina Sylwester
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Correspondence to Karolina Sylwester.

Appendix

Appendix

The vignettes consisted of 3–4 sentences and contained 41–55 words. Vignettes describing men and women were analogous and differed only by names and pronouns.

An example of two contrasting vignettes.

Financial risk taker

Patricia enjoys investing money so she regularly buys and sells stocks and shares. She wouldn’t hesitate to take a financial risk. She gambles her money in races, various competitions or while playing cards. She usually lends her money without any hesitation even if she doesn’t know the borrower very well.

Financial risk avoider

Every month Natalie tries to save some money on her account. She is afraid of taking a loan, because she thinks she might not be able to pay it in the future. She deals sensibly with money, lends it only to close relatives and always writes a proper contract.

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Sylwester, K., Pawłowski, B. Daring to Be Darling: Attractiveness of Risk Takers as Partners in Long- and Short-Term Sexual Relationships. Sex Roles 64, 695–706 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-010-9790-6

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