Men want to see you suffer

[hummingwolf]

From law_ethics_rss comes a link to a new study on schadenfreude:

NEW YORK - Bill Clinton said he felt others' pain. But a new brain-scanning study suggests that when guys see a cheater get a mild electric shock, they don't feel his pain much at all. In fact, they rather enjoy it.

In contrast, women's brains showed they do empathize with the cheater's pain and don't get a kick out it.

It's not clear whether this difference in schadenfreude — enjoyment of another's misfortune — results from basic biology or sex roles learned during life, researchers say. But it could help explain why men have historically taken charge of punishing criminals and others who violate societal rules, said researcher Dr. Klaas Stephan.

More info here. Another article is here, and contains the lovely quote "Hell hath no fury like a man scorned." Like most research on sex differences, this interpretation of the study is surely oversimplified--but I look forward to results of further studies. 'Tis interesting.

Comments

[missprune.livejournal.com]

I've often thought the brain is poorly designed, with the pain and pleasure centers too close together. Didn't realize there was a sex difference, that kind of explains the phenomenon of torture, which is otherwise baffling.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

I'm not convinced that the sex difference is all that big in the real world. But it is interesting that some people get a kick out of punishing people and others literally suffer for it.

[lyssabard.livejournal.com]

Just reading what you've posted here, I have to wonder if there is still a nature/nurture argument here; if, in fact, men being more socialized towards violent behaviour taught the brain to reinterpret such signals, etc., as a survival instinct.

Could be wrong. *grin* I should go read the articles. :)

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Y'know, psychotherapy seems to induce physical changes in the brain, so I don't think there will ever be a good way to decide if sex differences are innate or a result of environment, at least not without doing experiments currently considered highly unethical. Still, whether it's nature or nurture, the sex difference is interesting, if it shows up in more studies after this one.

[magnifelyn.livejournal.com]

Oh this explains some things i've seen but didn't understand!

i think i must be a little naive in this area... Hmmm.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Naive in what way?

[pnksaph.livejournal.com]

It's not clear whether this difference.....results from basic biology or sex roles learned during life...

Very interesting. I agree with you about looking forward to results of further studies.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

I've known too many gentle men and vindictive women to think that the sex difference is true for everyone, but the fact that different people's brains react so differently is interesting.