Keep the mate or keep the child? Examining sex differences in abortion decisions

Abortion is a controversial topic in society, and as such, has not been thoroughly explored from different theoretical perspectives. Across two studies, we investigated abortion decisions under varied conditions. Participants read hypothetical scenarios, deciding whether to terminate a life-threatening pregnancy in different circumstances. Men were more likely than women to terminate a life-threatening pregnancy. Participants were less likely to terminate the pregnancy when they could not have future children. Other individual difference variables also influenced participants’ abortion decisions. These findings suggest that evolutionary and social factors influence individuals’ abortion decisions.