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Newsweek: "His Cheating Brain"
Submitted by anthony on Thu, 2008-03-13 02:51
Article here. Excerpt:
'He's Hormonal. Alpha males are high on testosterone, the hormone that underlies almost all the typical traits of the politico-sexual animal: high levels of testosterone make for a high sex drive, a love of risks, aggressiveness and competitiveness. "These people have a strong need to win at games, which is obviously important in power politics," says Zuckerman. Success sends their testosterone spiraling up, while a loss brings the levels down— a phenomenon that's been documented in the lab as well as in athletes and chess champions.
...
Women's testosterone levels also rise when there's competition on the line, but the actual act of winning—or, for that matter, losing—doesn't have any effect on the levels either way. It's the game, not the outcome, that makes the difference for women. Success, then, may not set them off-balance the same way. Evolutionary psychology also suggests that women leaders wouldn't be as likely as men to get caught in sex scandals. "Men and women play different roles in reproduction, so I don't think that you'd see the same kind of pattern where high-status women would be more likely to seek out lots and lots of men," says Daniel Kruger, a research scientist at the University of Michigan who has studied risk-taking behavior. "That's not going to really benefit them that much because they're limited in the number of children they could have." Men, on the other hand, have more of a biological imperative to spread their genes far and wide--the kind of privilege that often comes with being an alpha male.'
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Comments
Comments?
Like I need to solicit comments from this crowd.... anyway, what do you think of such articles? What do you think of what they say?
It's called "hype"
Obviously there's some valid points in there. But pieces written this way are designed to carry away the reader, who will then be more than happy to spread his new-found "knowledge" with his friends and colleagues. And then if the article is written REALLY good, or if it confirms some pre-existing bias or viewpoint (whether valid or not), spreading it around enough causes it to become "what everyone knows".
Actually there's evidence that the higher-status males have higher steady-state testosterone level than lower-status males. Apparently a reduction in status causes hormonal changes, resulting in a lower testosterone level and other physiological changes.
See Moxon's book.
(note: it is obvious that by "status", Moxon means status as conferred by society, which then partially determines the man's place in the male dominance hierarchy. Or maybe I should just say, the status of the man within the dominance hierarchy is what is the determining factor. The lowered testosterone level and other changes, resulting in decreased sex drive and reproductive capability, make it so these low-status males will be less likely to yield offspring - thus keeping the species from weakening).
The difference between articles like these, and Moxon's book, is that the latter is entirely scientifically-based. And it offers an explanation for things, instead of just juggling around lots of related factors to make more relationships, which is all that dumbo psychologists know how to do. They're lost, just wondering in the wilderness bouncing from tree to tree, never formulating a satisfactory and conclusive explanation of anything.
-ax
RandomMan, where art though?
How about a "random" post now and then? What do you think, about the article or the way it was written?
-ax
Nostalgia
I am starting to be a bit confused about all this evolutionary psychology that portrays a man's basic need as spreading his sperm as far and wide as possible.
Because today, there's not a man alive who would not take a reliable male birth control pill to prevent his wayward sperm from causing terrible economic consequences and destroying his future.
The economics of fatherhood have changed significantly since 10,000 B.C.
Back then you could just go out for a bloody fun hunt with your buddies, come back with some red meat, and you were a celebrated stud.
Today you need a Lexus and a Rolex and a five bedroom house to go with the red meat.
it's not that
"evolutionary psychology that portrays a man's basic need as spreading his sperm as far "and wide as possible.
I'm not sure it's as simple as that. It is men with high status who do this..check out Moxon's book.
-ax
Why People Cheat
Notice that my title is not misandric in any way. I think the main reason why people cheat, is because, like it says in the article, they get bored with life and seek some sort of adventure. I'm not sure if that really has anything to do with testosterone levels or not, as I'm sure that people who aren't "sensation seekers" have cheated in the past as well.
I think it's like a scale. On one side you have the forbidden desires of the person, and on the other side you have their desire to be true to their family. When ther first side outweighs the other in importance to the person, cheating occurs. And of course, both men and women are capable of this.
Evan AKA X-TRNL
Real Men Don't Take Abuse!
Why People Cheat
Notice that my title is not misandric in any way. I think the main reason why people cheat, is because, like it says in the article, they get bored with life and seek some sort of adventure. I'm not sure if that really has anything to do with testosterone levels or not, as I'm sure that people who aren't "sensation seekers" have cheated in the past as well.
I think it's like a scale. On one side you have the forbidden desires of the person, and on the other side you have their desire to be true to their family. When ther first side outweighs the other in importance to the person, cheating occurs. And of course, both men and women are capable of this.
Sorry.. didn't mean to post this twice. I accidentally double-clicked the post button.
Evan AKA X-TRNL
Real Men Don't Take Abuse!