A new psychology study by University of Warwick researchers focused on the baby effect and young male syndrome, the risk-taking behavior in men and women. The participants accumulated cash while pumping up a computer-simulated balloon which could explode randomly at any moment. As the game progressed, participants had to decide whether to stop pumping and “bank” the winnings – or whether to continue and risk the balloon exploding and all the cash being lost. Research suggests that unlike women, men don’t curb certain risk-taking behaviours when a baby is present. Whereas women are significantly more cautious when they are partnered with small children in a gambling game measuring their attitude to risk, men don’t substantially alter their willingness to take a chance.
