Study confirms it-men are idiots

[Baclava]

8. Is risk taking used as a cue in mate choice?

Human risk taking shows some striking sex differences, which, when viewed in the framework of evolutionary theory, raises the possibility that it is a sexually selected trait.

"Heroism is an attractive feature to potential mates because “a male who takes such altruistic risks for the sake of other people or their children would undoubtedly do the same thing for his mate and her children”

Sexual selection can provide a twofold rationale for why males show these risky behaviors, especially at ages of high fertility.

First, the variance and skew in male mating success may favor risk taking: High potential gains (e.g. in resources promoting partner acquisition) outweigh the high risks.

Second, males may take risks as a form of advertisement of their quality to both females and rival males. The argument for why risk taking might be an honest indicator of quality follows the logic of the handicap principle:

If risky behaviors are less of a danger to a high-quality male than to a low quality male, high-quality males can afford to take such risks more often, and thus rivals and potential mates should use risk taking as a cue to quality.

http://www.epjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/ep04367393.pdf