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+--- Thread: Muscular men less likely to support social and economic equality, study suggests (/thread-3721.html)
Muscular men less likely to support social and economic equality, study suggests - C C - May 29, 2017
Weak men more likely to be socialists, study claims
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/weak-men-more-likely-to-be-socialists-study-claims-rsnc3l8mk
EXCERPT: [...] A study has found that weaker men are more likely to be in favour of redistributive taxation. The strong on the other hand, who in their cavemen past had no problems controlling both women and resources they had no intention of sharing, are far less likely to see the virtue of egalitarian social policies....
Muscular men less likely to support social and economic equality, study suggests
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/Muscular-men-less-likely-to-support-social-and-economic-equality-study-suggests
RELEASE: Physically stronger men are less in favour of social and economic equality than weaker men, new research from Brunel University London indicates. Dr Michael Price and colleagues assessed 171 men aged 18-40, collecting information on height, weight, waist size, flexed and relaxed muscle circumference, hand grip, and arm and chest strength.
They also surveyed participants on how often they go to the gym, their wealth, whether they support the redistribution of wealth, and whether they approve of the idea that some social groups should have dominance over others (‘social dominance orientation’). As well as focusing on bodily signs of perceived dominance, the researchers also focused on facial appearance: they had groups of independent raters view participants’ faces and rate whether they saw the men as dominant and attractive. They also used software to analyse faces in terms of the masculinity of their shape.
Prior research has shown several aspects of face shape and appearance, such as height-to-width ratio, are linked to ability to compete for resources in the modern world. The results showed a significant correlation between those with higher bodily formidability and the belief that some social groups should dominate others. These men were also much less likely to support redistribution of wealth. But contrary to predictions, there was no correlation between being considered attractive, as measured by waist-to-chest ratio and various facial measures, and whether or not the men supported ‘social dominance orientation’ or redistribution.
The study showed that more muscular men were less egalitarian, and the number of hours actually spent in the gym was also linked to having less egalitarian socioeconomic beliefs.
Dr Price, Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the College of Health and Life Sciences at Brunel, explains: “We believe that this link between perceived formidability and egalitarianism could be explained in a number of ways. It could be the result of men calibrating their egalitarianism to their own formidability. It could be the case that less egalitarian men strive harder to become muscular. Or there could be a third variable at play affecting both egalitarianism and muscularity.
"The causal direction here is somewhat ambiguous - does being muscular cause men to be less egalitarian, or are less-egalitarian men just more likely to lift weights?
"Our results suggest that wealthier men who are more formidable physically are more likely to oppose redistribution of wealth. Essentially, they seem more motivated to defend their resources. But less wealthy men who are still physically formidable don’t seem more inclined to support redistribution either. They’re not demanding a share of the wealth. A key question for future research might be whether certain personality traits, such as narcissism or a drive for dominance, might be related to both muscle-striving and inegalitarianism.”
‘Is sociopolitical egalitarianism related to bodily and facial formidability in men?’ by Michael Price and Nicholas Pound (Brunel), Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington (LSE), and James Sidnaius (Harvard University) is published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior and available online now.
RE: Muscular men less likely to support social and economic equality, study suggests - Syne - May 29, 2017
LOL! These studies are like the one to find out why fat girls have fewer dates.
Only lifelong academics would find these results surprising.
RE: Muscular men less likely to support social and economic equality, study suggests - Zinjanthropos - May 30, 2017
At least wallet fat got a mention.
RE: Muscular men less likely to support social and economic equality, study suggests - RainbowUnicorn - May 30, 2017
Muscular men less likely to support their children ... ?
"Muscular"
what is a social class of Muscular ?
RE: Muscular men less likely to support social and economic equality, study suggests - C C - May 30, 2017
The generalization abstracted from the study doesn't dominate so well in terms of my personal experience (or the contingent world of specific, concrete instances). I've encountered skinny, obese, and short men (who had one or two Japanese or Filipino parents) who routinely lambasted wealth balancing policies mediated by government. Some of them weren't even very competitive (indifferent to sports, games, keeping up with the Jones's, moving up on the ladder, etc). What they did seem to feature in common was a heavy work ethic (at least vocally endorsed and trumpeted, anyway). On the flip-side, public-interview wise there are plenty of muscular, minority athletes who exhibit "redistribution" thought orientations. As well as white athletes concerned about their marketing image both during their active and retired from "on the field" sports participation years.
RE: Muscular men less likely to support social and economic equality, study suggests - RainbowUnicorn - May 30, 2017
(May 30, 2017 07:01 PM)C C Wrote: The generalization abstracted from the study doesn't dominate so well in terms of my personal experience (or the contingent world of specific, concrete instances). I've encountered skinny, obese, and short men (who had one or two Japanese or Filipino parents) who routinely lambasted wealth balancing policies mediated by government. Some of them weren't even very competitive (indifferent to sports, games, keeping up with the Jones's, moving up on the ladder, etc). What they did seem to feature in common was a heavy work ethic (at least vocally endorsed and trumpeted, anyway). On the flip-side, public-interview wise there are plenty of muscular, minority athletes who exhibit "redistribution" thought orientations. As well as white athletes concerned about their marketing image both during their active and retired from "on the field" sports participation years.
so its agreed then. everyone is a socialist unles they give me money.
fyi i once met a rising star investment banker (very smart & switched on guy)who was also training to compete in UFC. he was a political centrist and beleived in mixed market economy and very socially minded would jump boots n all into any charity fundraising going on.
& to be fair (because i have put tounge firmly in cheek) ive met plenty of men who are very muscley, some of which are gay and did not find a particular penchant for lack of tollerance for diversity of people, most of them embraced such things.
i think the underlying question is about american popular sociology norms and the swing to a defensive posture to become more selfish as the government rolls back its support for its citizens.
RE: Muscular men less likely to support social and economic equality, study suggests - Syne - May 30, 2017
(May 30, 2017 11:24 AM)RainbowUnicorn Wrote: Muscular men less likely to support their children ... ?
Where did you read that? O_o