Published: 2005-12-30

Risk appetite as an indicator of biological quality

Ryszard Studenski

Abstract

There are many different reasons for taking risks. They are usually driven by the desire to save time, reduce effort, or increase potential benefits. People also take risks as a result of motivation triggered by the need for stimulation and novelty or in situations where they strive to achieve transgressive goals. There is also evidence suggesting that the motivation for risky behavior stems from the facilitating influence of a group. For example, gamblers tend to place riskier bets in the presence of others than when alone. In group decision-making, greater risks are taken compared to individual decisions. Risk-taking is also a form of self-presentation, motivated by the desire to maintain or enhance one’s social image. For many men, the motivation to take risks becomes more pronounced in the presence of women. Men often "engage in dangerous ventures because it allows them to demand special treatment." This tendency is also observed in many animal species. Male chimpanzees hunt more efficiently when a sexually active female is nearby. Dangerous feats are often performed by males to increase their chances of participating in reproduction. "In the vast majority of species, females decide on partner selection and are responsible for sexual selection." In choosing partners, they often show a strong attraction to males who engage in risky displays to impress those around them.

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Studenski, R. (2005). Risk appetite as an indicator of biological quality. Chowanna, 1(24), 131–143. https://doi.org/10.31261/CHOWANNA.2005.24.10

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Domyślna okładka

Vol. 1 No. 24 (2005)
Published: 2025-08-18


ISSN: 0137-706X
eISSN: 2353-9682

Publisher
Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego | University of Silesia Press

Licence CC Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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