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

[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?