Eric:
There is no one factor that determines human behavior, or aggression in
particular. Blaming testosterone is not only scientifically incorrect,
it's foolish. Aggressive behavior, in mammals like us, is -- among the
known factors --genetic, ecological, cultural, neonatal, social,
neurological, and influenced by random stressors. The way they combine
determines aggression in men and women.
I agree with that, but it doesn't explain why males are so much more
aggressive than females. Sexual deviance such as pedophilia and voyeurism
is rare among females compared to males, as is physical violence. There
is
a cultural "thing" about males being manly which is passed on through such
sayings as my mother said to me: "come home victorious or carried on your
shield" -- meaning dead. My mother would quote that -- and she was one of
the most liberal people I knew growing up. Are we males given permission
to be violent? I think so. Within certain parameters. It's our male
biological destiny, whereas relieving men of sexual tension and
childbearing is women's. The problem is trying to contain the violence
within certain parameters. We men don't seem to be very good at that. I
once asked a female friend what her most basic idea of "male" was and she
said men are those who can do what has to be done, whatever it is. That
answer startled me. I could think of a long list of things I wouldn't do
no
matter what. She made me feel like a sissy. But I think that her basic
notion was that males (or males-in-relationship) were security guards. In
which case aggressiveness was a good thing.
For as long as I've been a Phil-Lit and Lit-Ider, I've dumped on males. I
seldom like our kind, but I'm joyous at being a guy. If I were turned
into
a woman over night, but still had my guy brain, I'm sure I'd shoot myself.
I don't think I could handle the burden that women bear in this world.
I'd
rather work on machines.
Yes, I'm still just me and golf goes on at Burning Tree and women of the
world as do the men still carry on.
Good night and Happy May 21st.
Mike Geary
Memphis
[Original Message]
From: Eric Yost <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 5/21/2010 2:22:39 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Warrior world.
On 5/19/2010 9:46 PM, Mike Geary wrote:
> Why do men like violence? Do women?
>
> Mike Geary
>
Funny you should ask. I just completed a course taught by Robert
Sapolsky called, "The Biology of Human Behavior."
There is no one factor that determines human behavior, or aggression in
particular. Blaming testosterone is not only scientifically incorrect,
it's foolish. Aggressive behavior, in mammals like us, is -- among the
known factors --genetic, ecological, cultural, neonatal, social,
neurological, and influenced by random stressors. The way they combine
determines aggression in men and women.
The way people divide into Dems and GOPers is also aggressive in
essence. It reflects the practice of "pseudo-kinship," the creating of
artificial kinship groups (pastoral military groups, modern "bands of
brothers," etc.) to enhance the likelihood of sacrificing for ones
pseudo-kin in aggressive acts, ultimately leading to
"pseudo-speciation," where one views the non-pseudo-kinfolk as
"inhuman," thereby enabling aggressive acts.
The John Stewart Clan feels perfectly righteous in hating the Bill
O'Reilly Clan and vice versa. Of course, this is part of how people are
manipulated by media.
Eric
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