Get your Bear Grylls on: In a study at University of Alaska Anchorage, women found men more attractive if they took part in “hunter-gatherer” risks—those similar to challenges faced by our ancestors, like handling fire, climbing rocks in remote areas, and swimming across rivers.
But if the participants’ potential suitors engaged in modern risks with way lower stakes—like pirating a DVD or, uh, shunning antivirus software—the men’s attractiveness ratings plummeted.
This penchant for ancestral peril is likely rooted in natural selection, researchers say. When men take on these risks, they may be advertising their genetic prowess to women.
“Someone who can climb higher, swim colder waters, navigate whitewater, and tolerate temperature extremes would have been a good provider and partner in the hunter-gatherer era of human existence,” says study author John Petraitis, Ph.D.
Modern risks, on the other hand, provide no evolutionary advantages. Opening email attachments from strangers won’t prove that you’re a prime partner—it may just demonstrate weaknesses in character or judgment.
So if you want to get her hot, keep your mouth shut about these lamer risks—they’re like a form of birth control, says Petraitis.
Instead, don’t be afraid to flaunt the ballsy things you’ve done that would make your caveman-self proud: Post pictures of your camping trips or kayaking adventures on your dating profile, and talk up your latest athletic exploits on dates.