It's common knowledge that men may sometime act foolishly when in the presence of women, so as to attract them and prove that they are very skilled at what they do. This is true for rock climbers, parachutists and other males engaged in very dangerous and life-threatening extreme sports. A new study suggests that this behavior, which may otherwise be considered irrational, is driven by the will to attract potential mates, as men often think that by showing confidence in their abilities, they “grow” in the eyes of women.

This type of behavior is based on the fact that women had to historically be more selective than men in what concerned their partners, as in they had to choose someone who could provide for them and for the babies. This is true since the time of the cave people, where the leader of the group, and the higher members of the command structure, were always those who had the most chances of finding a female willing to mate with them. Those with lower ranks had to fight among themselves to prove their worth to the remaining women.

Social psychologists at Florida State University suggest that taking risks is part of a strategy, developed by all men, meant to draw as much attention to them as possible. The rationale behind this behavior is not always conscious, so males may find themselves in situations were they know they are being watched, and suddenly realize that they are doing something they normally wouldn't do. But the researchers draw attention to the fact that they will only take more risks if they feet the reward is worth it.

In other words, if confronted with the prospect of attracting a female they do not like, men will stop behaving irrationally, and will start “playing it safe.” Psychologists say that this happens because the male brain recognizes the importance of self-preservation over immediate pleasure, and tries to keep itself in the best possible shape, until another challenge arises.

"The bottom line is that risk-taking can be a tool that men use to show potential mates that they have desirable qualities such as confidence or ambition. If men are not motivated to pursue a mate or there are no potential mates present, then the potential benefits of a risky display are less likely to outweigh the potential costs," Michael Baker, a doctoral student in social psychology at Florida State, who is also the co-author of the new study, told LiveScience.