Are people more risk-taking in the presence of the opposite sex?

Patrick McAlvanah ()

Journal of Economic Psychology, 2009, vol. 30, issue 2, pages 136-146

Abstract: This paper investigates whether exposure to the opposite sex induces greater risk-taking in both males and females. Experimental subjects evaluated a series of hypothetical monetary gambles before and after viewing pictures of opposite sex faces; control subjects viewed pictures of cars. Both males and females viewing opposite sex photos displayed a significant increase in risk tolerance, whereas the control subjects exhibited no significant change. Surprisingly, the attractiveness of the photo had no effect; subjects viewing photographs of attractive opposite sex persons displayed similar results as those viewing photographs of unattractive people.

Keywords: Risk; preferences; Probability; discounting; Experimental; economics; Behavioral; economics; Arousal; effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009

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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:30:y:2009:i:2:p:136-146

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