This may not come as a surprise to most women, but scientific research has now proven that men throw caution to the wind when in the company of an attractive female.
New research by scientists at Brisbane’s University of Queensland found that men become more likely to take physical risks, causing an increase of testosterone, in the presence of an attractive woman.
Professor Bill von Hippel and doctoral student Richard Ronay, who conducted the research, suggest that a male’s increase in risky behaviour is all part of them attracting and impressing a female.
The research found that the increased risk-taking also lead to an increase in testosterone levels.
“Historically, men have competed with each other for access to fertile women and the winners of those competitions are the ones who pass on their genes to future generations,” Professor von Hippel said in a media release.
“Risk-taking would have been inherent in such a competitive mating strategy,” he said.
“Our results suggest that displays of physical risk-taking might best be understood as hormonally fuelled advertisements of health and vigour aimed at potential mates, and signals of strength, fitness, and daring intended to intimidate potential rivals.”
Although men who engage in risky behaviour seem to be favoured, Professor von Hippel said this behaviour can put them in dangerous situations.
“Other instances of physical risk-taking that contribute to men’s early mortality, such as dangerous driving and physical aggression, might also be influenced by increases in testosterone brought about by the presence of attractive women.”
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