Sexy women - bad choice

I, Science 8 June 2006
Link

APRIL: The damaging effects of women on hearts, cars and credit cards are well documented. But it seems that men's ability to make important decisions may also be under threat.

A new study suggests that the mere sight of a pretty lady could be enough to wreak havoc on a man's judgement. Men with high levels of testosterone appear particularly susceptible.

"We all think we are rational beings, but our research suggests ... that people with high testosterone levels are very vulnerable to sexual cues. If they see sexual images they become impulsive," said Dr. Siegfried De Witte, one of the researchers at the University of Leuven, Belgium. The paper appeared in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

176 heterosexual males were split into groups to play a game that involved making financial decisions. The groups were shown different images before playing the game.

Volunteers shown pictures of beautiful women, or asked to rate a new range of lingerie, fared poorly at the game, being more likely to accept low offers and unfair play.

Testosterone levels were also measured. Those with the highest levels performed worst on the test, suggesting that men's vulnerability to women may extend beyond their conscious control.

Conversely, it is not yet known whether the sight of attractive men can affect a woman's judgement. Rumours of a repeat study, where women must take critical decisions to match shoes with dresses and handbags, have not been confirmed.