To what extent are men and women socialized to be different? Does one gender naturally possess certain characteristics – mental, not physical – over the other?
Excerpt from an article:
The study seems to show for the first time in physical terms what many people probably assume they already know: that women are generally more empathetic than men, and that men take great pleasure in seeing revenge exacted.
Men “expressed more desire for revenge and seemed to feel satisfaction when unfair people were given what they perceived as deserved physical punishment,” said Dr. Tania Singer, the lead researcher, of the Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience at University College London.
But far from condemning the male impulse for retribution, Dr. Singer said it had an important social function: “This type of behavior has probably been crucial in the evolution of society as the majority of people in a group are motivated to punish those who cheat on the rest.”
Articles of relevance:
When bad people are punished, men smile (but women don’t)
Brain scans reveals men’s pleasure in revenge
