Posted on 09/08/2006 8:08:32 PM PDT by blam
Why do men need war? It's male bonding
Reports by Roger Highfield and Nic Fleming
(Filed: 09/09/2006)
Men need threats, rivalry and war for them to work together the most effectively, according to a study of the "male warrior effect".
The issue of why men start wars has been investigated in a series of experiments by Prof Mark van Vugt of the University of Kent. They reveal that conflict is part of male bonding.
"We all know that males are more aggressive than females but with that aggression comes a lot of co-operation," Prof van Vugt said yesterday. While male co-operation lies at the heart of democracy and leadership, and men work better in hierarchical groups than women, it is a double-edged sword.
"Men might need wars to show off their altruism, to be celebrated as warriors and heroes," the professor added.
Women in general are better at co-operating. "Women leaders are more dovish than hawkish," Prof van Vugt said.
In a forthcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science, Prof van Vugt and colleagues in Kent and at the University of Tilburg describe laboratory tests which show that rivalry drives males to make sacrifices for their group more than women.
The experiments involved about 300 students. Equal numbers of men and women were divided into groups of six who could only interact by computer.
They were each given £3 that they could invest for the group, when it would be doubled and divided equally among the group, or keep for themselves. Those who did not co-operate reaped the most benefit. They would end up with £3 plus any money divided among the group.
But when the group was told it was competing with other universities, "it was the men who started to be very altruistic and invest in the group fund. The women were less sensitive".
This "male warrior effect" is consistent with findings from other disciplines.
"Men are more likely to support their country going to war," Prof van Vugt said. "Men are more likely to lead groups in more autocratic, militaristic ways.
"Men have evolved a psychology that makes them particularly interested, and able to engage, in warfare."
Similar behaviours can be seen in a "pristine primordial form" in chimpanzees, he added.
"They go out on raids into neighbouring communities and kill off members of rival groups." Aside from warfare, the males do not usually co-operate, the professor said.
Already posted: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1697991/posts
OH, a study done by a metrosexual professor. I trust his judgment. *Sarcasm off
Idiots.
Why? Because human civilization is based on systematic murder.
The simple fact is we like to blow stuff up.
That might be true three weeks out of the month. : )
Wars happen because of human nature.
There is always somebody who wants what somebody else has.
Which of course explains Prime Ministers Golda Mier, Indira Ghandi, and my favorite, Margaret Thatcher.
It also explains She Who Must Not Be Mentioned (The one with the cankles). While she's not hawkish on American interests, she is hawkish on her own.
Or who just wants everyone to be just like themselves, one way or another. Such our current Jihadies.
We don't need it,but this is a very esoteric question.
How about this Roger Highfield and Nic Fleming,so we and our families won't be killed.
It ain't brain surgery.
What kind of a girl named "Roger" wrote this article?
Why Do Men Need War? So the one who wins can dictate the term of a lasting peace.
Why would abyone even propose this question unles they were limp-wristed?
ROTFL! I am not a man, and were I in charge shock and awe would be the main feature tonight all over the middle east!
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