A Natural History of the Modern Mind

Sex

Am I Supposed to Be Impressed?

Kayla Causey and Aaron Goetz on July 23, 2009

While there is no magical moment at which teenagers immediately engage in reckless abandon, we feel these anecdotes serve to illustrate the epitome of what evolutionary psychologists Margo Wilson and Martin Daly have dubbed, “Young Male Syndrome.” This is a term used to describe the propensity of males, ripened 16 to 24 years, to engage in perilous risk-taking activities, discounting safety, good judgment, and the future. During these years (and in at least one case - ahem - for years after), men feel “invincible” and adopt the “it won’t happen to me” mantra, driving their more reasonable and wiser elders to grow gray hair, wag their fingers, and taunt, “I hope you don’t learn the hard way.” 

While there is no magical moment at which teenagers immediately engage in reckless abandon, we feel these anecdotes serve to illustrate the epitome of what evolutionary psychologists Margo Wilson and Martin Daly have dubbed, “Young Male Syndrome.” This is a term used to describe the propensity of males, ripened 16 to 24 years, to engage in perilous risk-taking activities, discounting safety, good judgment, and the future. During these years (and in at least one case - ahem - for years after), men feel “invincible” and adopt the “it won’t happen to me” mantra, driving their more reasonable and wiser elders to grow gray hair, wag their fingers, and taunt, “I hope you don’t learn the hard way.” 

Halo Effect

The Halo Effect in Overdrive

Kayla Causey and Aaron Goetz on July 2, 2009

It seems one characteristic (albeit positive or negative) seems to "outshine" others and bias our perception in the respective direction.

It seems one characteristic (albeit positive or negative) seems to "outshine" others and bias our perception in the respective direction.

Homosexuality has a genetic component. If a man's brother is gay, he is four times as likely to also be gay. How can homosexuality be genetic, however, if homosexuals don't reproduce? Two recent studies using twin samples, reported in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, demonstrate how genes that might lead to homosexuality might also lead to reproductive success in their heterosexual carriers.

Oxytocin

The Most Manipulative of Species

Kayla Causey and Aaron Goetz on April 24, 2009

By Kayla Causey & Aaron Goetz"I hate how they're so cute. I hate it!" -Ryan Moyer, social psychologist and eternal skepticWe think we're so smart. As humans, we have succeeded in manipulating the environment to meet our needs, a feat unique to our species. So we think.What we might not realize is that we've created a monster who, without even saying a word, manipulates us into willingly relinquishing to it all that we have created.

By Kayla Causey & Aaron Goetz"I hate how they're so cute. I hate it!" -Ryan Moyer, social psychologist and eternal skepticWe think we're so smart. As humans, we have succeeded in manipulating the environment to meet our needs, a feat unique to our species. So we think.What we might not realize is that we've created a monster who, without even saying a word, manipulates us into willingly relinquishing to it all that we have created.