Behavioral addictions are associated with detrimental consequences to one’s functioning and wellbeing and hence have raised both public and clinical concerns. Both smartphone addiction (SA) and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) are common types of behavioral addictions, but the former is relatively generic, whereas the latter is behavior specific. This study approaches this topic from an evolutionary theoretical perspective and is the first to apply life history (LH) theory to understanding the interplay among LH strategies, self-regulation processes (i.e., impulse control and goal setting), and behavioral addictions (including both SA and IGD). We recruited 351 Chinese undergraduate students (M_age = 19.33; SD = 1.06) who voluntarily completed an anonymous questionnaire. Results indicated that males had higher levels of IGD than females, although SA results did not vary by gender. As hypothesized, LH strategies were significantly and negatively related to SA and IGD (r = –0.17 and –0.18, p < .001) in those participants with fast LH strategies were more vulnerable to two behavioral addictions. The results of path analysis, however, partially supported the hypothesized mediating effect of self-regulation processes and showed that impulse control, but not goal setting, significantly mediated the effect of LH strategies on the two behavioral addictions The findings extended the application of evolutionary theory in explaining the development of both generic and specific types of behavioral addiction. Moreover, the differential effects of the two specific self-regulation processes on both SA and IGD suggest that, compared to low competence to set goal, a lack of control over one’s impulsion is a more salient factor in the development and/or maintenance of behavioral addiction. Interventions, such as improving self-control, would be potentially effective strategies for Chinese university students vulnerable to behavioral addictions.