To think men take more risks than women do?

[pregahes]

Just that really. Having a debate and I think this is the case.

What are your thoughts and if you agree, why do you think this is? Nature or Nurture?

@TheCadoganArms personally I think a lot of it is a steroids thing, but more academically it's more about power - as the recent "why do men sit next to a sole woman on an empty bus/train" question this week showed, some men do love to intimidate and it makes them feel even more powerful if they can get away with it. So for a brief adrenaline hit they decide they own the road and act recklessly because they can't accurately assess the risk and to them their power trip giving them the warm and fuzzies takes priority over safety of everyone else (partly because of the dopamine hit their power trip delivers, which also makes it more tempting to do again).

It's not necessarily poor risk assesment - it may be that the men are assessing the attractiveness of the various options differently than a woman would. For example, a man who is scared to walk home alone is likely to lose status in his peer group in a way that a woman would not. It's entirely rational for the man to take this into account in his decision-making.

Most studies show men are more fearless than women in general, so less likely to be scared walking home alone. Men value kudos from other males very highly though, I agree, so they may be less willing to express their fear in general, or selectively forget it with cognitive dissonance when asked.

Absolutely, therefore women tend not to. However men don't change their actions as their risk assessment is different (if any) meaning more men maybe victim to violent stranger attacks however if women didn't risk areas like we do I think numbers would be similar (possibly higher)

Evolutionary biologist, Steve Jones argues that men take more risks due to testosterone using data from around the globe that in every country the proportion of male’s dying in accidents and murders (ie not health related) is 10 times that of females from childhood all the way to late middle age (when testosterone declines). Numbers vary enormously from country to country due to cultural differences (nurture/culture) but the proportion is always the same. This indicates nature is to blame. Women, by contrast, suffer more autoimmune disease as a result of their own sex hormones.

Most men are being dramatically feminised now but yes they do take more risks. It was necessary from an evolution perspective for them to get out the cave and kill and bring back the meat.

Those times are returning and most men are not equipped to deal with it.

Men are being feminised? Those times are returning?
Please do enlighten us.

😃

The link between all types of risk taking and testosterone is well established. There is really no doubt at all that men are more prone to risk taking. There is likely a societal element too, but the biochemistry is proven.

I have higher than average testosterone for a woman, and ADHD so dopamine seeking. I do things that other people think are very risky. Travel to 'interesting' places, bungee jump/canyoning, moving countries etc. I do risk assess very well though.

There's actually some interesting research about slightly higher risks being evolutionarily beneficial on a population level. So I'm just evolved

And yes, the Stupid Men Theory neatly describes men taking more risks.

Yeah they have won the vast majority of Darwin awards. So I’d agree with that. I think there are psychological studies on this too.

@Brumhilda Is this why so many more men are taking steroids and becoming unable to have sex? I do see a marked increase in men using these for bodybuilding and then an increasing frustration that they can't copulate. Roid Rage has become very commonplace.

It doesn’t need explaining to those that understand and can see it, and it can’t be explained to those that don’t.

It will be obvious soon enough.

Could you have a go though? I'm genuinely interested.

👀🍿

It doesn't matter, because nothing can be done to change it and the only way out is through.

Lead the way crusader, we're right behind you!

They do. I used to work in insurance and mortality rates are different for men and women (or they used to be anyway, I'm a few years out of date). Part of that is that men (in general, as a group) take more risks - drive more dangerously, more likely to get into fights, do adrenaline sports, and other hobbies that carry a risk of death or injury. On a less immediate level, they also take more day to day risks with eating fatty food, not going to the doctors when they should etc. Again, overall, as a group, although obviously not true for a lot of men!

I think DH has evolved into a woman then. He’s a big fanny!! I always joke that I’ve got bigger balls than him! 😂

I think it's nurture rather than nature.

Women accept a lot more responsibility than men do for other people's welfare.

But it's also very individual.

My mother, my brother and my exh are very risk averse. I'm not reckless but I will take calculated risks. I'm not crippled by thoughts of what what could go wrong. I'm a lot more, "Ah fuck it. What's the worst that can happen?" About things.

But then they've always lived very 'safe' lives.

I haven't (not necessarily through choice) and I've found myself in some dire situations through the choices of others. I've always bounced back.

Experience has shown me that where there's a will, there's a way and I don't tend to crumble if it all goes to shit.

I would think it’s largely true of any male age, but it’s surely particularly a Thing with teens/young 20s behind the wheels of cars!

Now and then in the afternoons I watch Police Interceptors (can’t follow anything with a plot while I’m knitting) and who is it, 99.9 times out of 100 who’s stopped for driving dangerously/like a lunatic, and very often, under the influence of weed?

Hint, it’s not women or recently-passed-their test girls!

Stoners aren't particularly renowned for driving fast, it's the speeders, roid users and coke heads that want to play space invaders at 100mph.

I think there is an HBR article on this. I seem to remember that it said that if there had been more women on the boards of the big banks, the crisis of 2008 probably wouldn’t have happened.

Men are raised to believe in themselves selves and expect the best. Women are expected to fit in, not make a fuss and be grateful.

Men lie because they think they are invincible. Women tolerate men's crap because we are told to blame ourselves.

Obviously not all women . This is a general view of how society exists to benefit men first. Especially wealthy white men.

I’m a big sports fan, and it’s interesting watching the differing reactions of parents when their offspring are competing, particularly in potentially dangerous sports, eg motor racing. Dad is usually closely involved & cheering them on. Mum is almost always so anxious & scared for them that she literally can’t watch. The different attitudes to risk are clearly displayed.