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Brains, Men and Women

August 26, 2005 05:25 PM

I couldn't pass this up for it is something that you just know to be true when you are a high level academic. You meet fewer astonishingly brilliant females than males, even adjusting for population size. And, you meet a lot more patient, detail-oriented females than males. That is just how it is and both approaches contribute to knowledge. But, the big ideas tend to come from males.

Bigger brains among males is part of the reason. But, another is the high variance among males relative to females (biological constraints on birthing and that little short, high variance y chromosone that makes a male). Men are more often geniuses and more often on the very low end of the intelligence scale. The variance in males is useful in creating a variety of behaviors that might turn out to be adaptive in a changing environment. Hunting requires a diversity of strategies. It would be devastating in females. Raising children requires a pretty restricted policy.

Then again, there is the carnivore connection. Men are the hunters in all known hunter-gatherer populations. Predators have larger brains than other species. The larger brain is for two reasons: one, hunting is a high intelligence activity and two, predators (men) obtain high levels of essential fatty acids in their prey for brain development. Women eat less meat and obtain fewer essential fatty acids.

Even if you disagree, the article is worth a look. By the way, I am treating the comments area now as a discussion forum on which I will comment sparingly. Brains by Sex.

· Everything

Comments

Posted by: Flower Online [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 12, 2006 4:26 AM

Art, I think Larry Summers read your blog and internalized this idea. He delivered it last year and now he is out at Harvard. Ideas can be quite dangerous.

Posted by: Akapee [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 4, 2006 12:28 PM

Talk about being Politically Incorrect! Art, I am ashamed of you!!! Only kidding. What an interesting concept. It seems to make sense, on the surface, and it ties right in with the whole evolutionary idea. It certainly makes you stop and think. And that is what I like about you, Art. You challenge preconceived beliefs and make us think! Bravo!

Posted by: Jim [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 27, 2005 6:59 AM

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