Anthro 316
Dr. Pillsworth
06/02/2017
Writing Assignment 1
1. The primary goal of this article was to discuss a study conducted regarding risk-taking in
men and women. As economists, the researcher’s main focus of the study was to assess
the extent in which specific evolutionary patterns of behavior in males and females
relate to financial decision-making. The study not only measured differences between
male and female attitudes on financial risk but additionally anticipations that men and
women have toward each other regarding financial risk.
2. After scanning the article for a couple hours, I found no particular hypothesis written by
Eckel and Grossman. However, they did provide ample research in the introduction that
leaned towards the idea that women are much more risk averse than men. They outline
that women involve themselves in much less risky behaviors than men do, across most
environments and social structures. They argue that the main idea of the different risk
behavior types among men and women relate to the differences facing them in the
returns to alternative options in reproductive strategies. Overall, I assume that Eckel and
Grossman hypothesized that women would be shown to be more risk averse than men
during the study, coinciding with recent research.
3. In the study, the subjects first completed the Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS).
They then were instructed to choose between five different gambles that had financial
risks. The subjects were either paid after completion of the survey, and then gambled
Dr. Pillsworth
06/02/2017
Writing Assignment 1
1. The primary goal of this article was to discuss a study conducted regarding risk-taking in
men and women. As economists, the researcher’s main focus of the study was to assess
the extent in which specific evolutionary patterns of behavior in males and females
relate to financial decision-making. The study not only measured differences between
male and female attitudes on financial risk but additionally anticipations that men and
women have toward each other regarding financial risk.
2. After scanning the article for a couple hours, I found no particular hypothesis written by
Eckel and Grossman. However, they did provide ample research in the introduction that
leaned towards the idea that women are much more risk averse than men. They outline
that women involve themselves in much less risky behaviors than men do, across most
environments and social structures. They argue that the main idea of the different risk
behavior types among men and women relate to the differences facing them in the
returns to alternative options in reproductive strategies. Overall, I assume that Eckel and
Grossman hypothesized that women would be shown to be more risk averse than men
during the study, coinciding with recent research.
3. In the study, the subjects first completed the Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS).
They then were instructed to choose between five different gambles that had financial
risks. The subjects were either paid after completion of the survey, and then gambled
