Variations in risk taking behavior over the menstrual cycle: An improved replication

A Bröder, N Hohmann - Evolution and Human Behavior, 2003 - Elsevier
A Bröder, N Hohmann
Evolution and Human Behavior, 2003Elsevier
Evidence that women are less likely to be raped near ovulation than at other times in the
ovarian cycle may reflect behavioral adaptations against the risk of fertile insemination by
rapists. Chavanne and Gallup [Evol. Hum. Behav. 19 (1998) 27] proposed that women
selectively reduce behaviors that expose them to a risk of rape during the ovulatory phase of
their menstrual cycle, and reported supportive evidence. However, their study suffered from
certain methodological shortcomings. In an improved test involving 51 subjects, repeated …
Evidence that women are less likely to be raped near ovulation than at other times in the ovarian cycle may reflect behavioral adaptations against the risk of fertile insemination by rapists. Chavanne and Gallup [Evol. Hum. Behav. 19 (1998) 27] proposed that women selectively reduce behaviors that expose them to a risk of rape during the ovulatory phase of their menstrual cycle, and reported supportive evidence. However, their study suffered from certain methodological shortcomings. In an improved test involving 51 subjects, repeated measurement, and an explicit distinction between risky and nonrisky activities, we confirmed all predictions: During the ovulatory phase, naturally cycling women reduced risky behaviors and increased nonrisky ones. Women using contraceptives causing hormonal suppression of ovulation showed neither effect.
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