I have finally figured it out. To bring immediate gender equality to our society, all we need to do is to boost men's oxytocin levels while simultaneously boosting women's testosterone levels.
The Eurakalert headline tells it: Testosterone makes us less cooperative and more egocentric, study finds.
As the article relates, the hormone oxytocin has already been implicated in behaviors described as trusting/loyal/cooperative. Pro-social stuff. Meaning putting needs of the group ahead of your own -- traditionally considered (in our time/society and with tongue-in-cheek) as girly stuff.'
A new study has shown that giving female subjects testosterone supplements influenced their behavior toward a more selfish direction.
[H]igher levels of testosterone were associated with individuals behaving egocentrically and deciding in favour of their own selection over their partner's.
Son of bitch and culture-be-damned, we've got hormones circulating in our bodies that may predispose us to certain types of behaviors.
Of course, that is not to say that culture doesn't play a role. No, no, no. It certainly does -- even to the extent of actually influencing hormone levels. The point: culture isn't working with blank slate.
Tags: culture, gender, social psychology
February 9th, 2012 at 6:53 am
In our clinic we sometimes supplement testosterone — it certainly does not make men better people, but it makes them happier — often at the expense of others. Ya gotta love the stuff.