Scegliere in condizioni di rischio: il ruolo del ciclo mestruale e dell'impulsività

[Autom. eng. transl.] The study of the relationship between the menstrual cycle and risk behavior has not, to date, led to univocal and convergent conclusions. The present work aims to verify the influence that the phase of the menstrual cycle and the tendency and impulsiveness exert on the risk behavior. To a sample of 68 university students - divided according to the menstrual phase at the time of the experimental session in "fertile" (N = 23, average age = 23.8, DS = 1.9) and "non-fertile" (N = 45, average age = 24.1, DS = 2.6) - the Dickman Impulsivity Inventory (DII, Dickman, 1990) was given to measure the individual level of functional and dysfunctional impulsivity and a computerized version of the IOWA gambling task ( IGT, Bechara et al. 1994). The results show how the amount of the sum won by the participants in the IGT is influenced by the interaction between the phase of the cycle and the individual level of dysfunctional impulsiveness. Specifically, the participants who are in the fertile phase and who have a lower level of dysfunctional impulsiveness win significantly more substantial figures both with respect to those who are in a fertile phase but who have high levels of dysfunctional impulsiveness, both with respect to women who are found in the non fertile phase. The theoretical implications of the results obtained are discussed with reference to evolutionary theories.