Abstract:

We examine risky sexual choice under the lens of rational decision making. Participants (N = 257) completed a novel sexual choice task wherein they selected among hypothetical sexual partners varying in physical attractiveness and the probability of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from a one-time sexual encounter. We find that nearly all participants evaluated the sexual choice alternatives in a coherent fashion consistent with utility-based theories of rational choice. In subsequent analyses, we classified participants’ responses according to attractiveness maximizing or STI risk minimizing sexual preferences. Finally, we established an association between sexual choice in our task and reported real-world sexual risk taking.