Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

Saw this at Psychology Today: Men like blond bombshells, most suicide bombers are Muslim, having sons reduces the likelihood of divorce, etc. Read on.

According to Alan Miller Ph.D. and Satoshi Kanazawa Ph.D. , these are ten truths about human nature that may "seem immoral, contrary to our ideals, or offensive" but are nonetheless true and "supported by documented scientific evidence" (from their book "Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters" to be published by Pedigree in September 2007).

1. Men like blond bombshells (and women like to look like them)

According to them, men prefer women who are healthier and more fertile. Barbie-type features like youth, small waist, large breasts, long blond hair, and blue eyes are sought for because they are good indicators of health and fertility.

2. Humans are naturally polygamous

Polyandry (marriage of one woman to many men) is rare while polygyny (marriage of one man to many women) is widespread in human societies. This has an intriguing implication:

"In societies where rich men are much richer than poor men, women (and their children) are better off sharing the few wealthy men; one-half, one-quarter, or even one-tenth of a wealthy man is still better than an entire poor man."

Although humans are naturally polygynous, most societies today are monogamous because men tend to have more or less equal shares of resources as compared to their ancestors. There was greater inequality during the transition from hunter-gatherer to advanced agrarian societies, hence more instances of polygyny. Industrialization has decreased this level of inequality.

3. Most women benefit from polygyny, while most men benefit from monogamy

If the level of resource inequality among men is high, women are better off sharing a wealthy man rather than being stuck with marrying a poor man.

If you accept the fact that there are fewer attractive men than there are not-so-attractive men, you might find it believable that most men would benefit from monogamy. At least, monogamy assures that a man would find a wife for himself. Under polygyny, only attractive and desirable men will have wives, and will have lots of them. The others are left with none for themselves.

4. Most suicide bombers are Muslim

Reason 1: Islam tolerates polygyny. Therefore, there's a shortage of available women for most men since the others (who are few and rich and powerful) are hoarding the women. Young men of low status are then compelled to resort to violent means. (Across societies, polygyny makes men violent and increases crime and rape, even after controlling factors such as economic development, population density, political factors, etc.)

Reason 2: Islam promises 72 virgins waiting in heaven for any martyr. This is great motivation for those who are deprived of their mates on earth.

5. Having sons reduces the likelihood of divorce

A man's mate value is determined by his wealth, status, and power while a woman's is determined by her youth and physical attractiveness. So while there is very little that parents can do to increase the mate value of their daughters, they have to work hard, ideally together, to increase the value of their son.

6. Beautiful people have more daughters

See my previous post here.

7. What Bill Gates and Paul McCartney have in common with criminals

Both crime and genius are expressions of male desires, whose function is to increase reproductive success. In competition against fellow males, some men resort to violence while others express their competitiveness through creative activities. Both were beneficial to our evolutionary ancestors.

Crime and genius among men are expressed at relatively the same periods in their lifetimes. The "age-genius" curve peaks in early adulthood, when they are most inclined to find mates, and declines throughout adulthood.

8. The midlife crisis is a myth - sort of

Men go through midlife crises not because they are middle-aged but because their wives are. When wives reach the end of their reproductive careers, men have a renewed need to attract younger mates. A 50-year-old man marrying a 25-year-old woman will not undergo midlife crisis. However, a 25-year-old man marrying a 50-year-old-woman and a 50-year-old-man married to a 50-year-old woman will both undergo midlife crises.

9. It's natural for politicians to risk everything for an affair (but only if they're male)

Case in point: Bill Clinton on the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

"Why on earth would the most powerful man in the world jeopardize his job for an affair with a young woman?"

Why not? From a Darwinian perspective, men strive to attain power, including political power, consciously or unconsciously to have reproductive access to a large number of women. What distinguishes Bill Clinton from others is the fact that he got caught.

10. Men sexually harass women because they are not sexist

Men have a large repertoire of tactics that they use in competitive situations. This includes abuse, intimidation, and degradation. Men use this repertoire and display their power on both men and women. In the cases of women, this leads to sexual harassment. It means that men do not discriminate according to sex when they attempt to eliminate competition.