Higher Testosterone Levels Lead to Financial Risks

Women with higher testosterone levels are seven times more likely to take financial risks. When given a choice between a guaranteed monetary award and the chance of winning a lottery worth more money, testosterone levels weighted the results.

Men have always taken bigger financial risks than women, but according to a new study reported by the Associated Press, the testosterone level in women may weight those financial risks. Testosterone is a hormone found predominantly in men. The hormone is, however, naturally occurring in smaller amounts in the female body. Researchers at Northwestern University approached 500 MBA students, both male and female, with a unique question. The participants were asked to choose between a guaranteed money award or a chance at winning a lottery worth more money. While the men in the study chose the lottery more often than the women, study authors noted that women with higher testosterone levels were seven times more likely to choose the riskier financial choice than women with lower levels of the male hormone. The study, paid for by the Templeton Foundation, also noted that married participants were less likely to take a financial risk over a guarantee of money.