Hold the phone....the relationship between voice pitch and sex drive may not be as clear as some have supposed. Including me? In March of this year I did make a post, Voice Pitch and Sex Drive: A Correlation. Was I wrong?
Actually, I was somewhat skeptical of the finding, wondering whether it would hold up upon further study, including that of the cross-cultural variety.
Recently I encountered a bit of research that throws doubt upon one form of the hormone and voice pitch correlation.
In the Eurekalert post, Women's voices remain steady throughout the month, I learned that, in contradiction of other research, it may not be the case that changing hormone levels in the same women over time is correlated with voice pitch differences.
As to whether average hormone levels and voice pitch among different women are correlated . . . that is a different, but related question.
Okay, so these are different questions. Nonetheless, it brought to mind the issue of scientific consensus. If one study were to show "no relation" and another "significant correlation," which do we trust? Do we trust either? Fully, no.
We wait for more research and hope for a growing consensus of opinion of those "in the know."
I don't know about you, but as an independent thinker of the nearly zealous sort, deferring to others doesn't sit comfortably with me. But it may be the more rational thing to do.
Consider this scenario: A fossilized femur is discovered in Africa. The discoverer claims it belongs to a "missing link" in the human lineage. Does it?
Some (sophomoric?) minds may be inclined to conclude that "a fact is a fact." Or that brute rationality will provide an undeniable correct answer.
I wish. If only the practice of science were that clear and simple.
So we turn the bone over to teams of experts. The "best science" will prevail, right?
Experts discover a bunch of markers suggesting "yes." And a bunch suggesting "no." Darn.
What if the same or separate experts find 3 strong "yes" markers and 7 weak "no"? Darn again.
If, however, a consensus of the best informed minds says, "looks like yes/no," well, we might be wise to conclude, "It's probably the case."
The moral of the story? The fully scientifically-inclined mind is patient. Time will tell, but perhaps not beyond the shadow of a doubt. And that's okay.
Tags: gender, rationality, sexuality
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