Psychologist explains how women make the world more peaceful
Secretly we all know it anyway: If women rule the world, there would be no gender pay gap and we all lived happily and in peace of calorie-free vanilla ice cream.
But the fact that we women, after all, slowly gaaaaanz little bit mitregieren the world, it has become much better and above all peaceful, says the Canadian experimental psychologist and cognitive scientist Steven Pinker.
Violence used to be on the agenda
'Peaceful?' Many will now be wondering about the atomic arms race of Donald and Kim. Or in the face of the civil wars in North Africa or the daily reports of violence. Yes, but at least such reports shock us. 500 years ago, violence was considered normal.
"Certain violent practices that were common in antiquity worldwide have in fact disappeared, such as human sacrifice, cannibalism, or the castration of eunuchs," "Focus" cites the Canadian, citing his article in the current "Philosophy Magazine."
Other examples that Pinker cites as an illustration of his thesis of a world that has become more peaceful: is the murder rate in Europe? compared to the 14th century? drastically dropped from 100 murders per 100,000 per year to just one. Slavery is prohibited today. And we interdict offenders quite civilly and civilly, instead of torturing and mutilating them.
Too much testosterone in power prevents world peace
Pinker sees a reason for this trend towards world peace in the emancipation of women. And a nasty force that makes men violent, the scientist can also name: testosterone. Experiments on primates have proven that a higher testosterone level leads to more brutality.
So women alone are more peaceful because of their hormonal balance (woe, someone is laughing now, I am getting my period and I do not understand fun!), Ergo, Pinker says: "The fact that women have more power leads to milder manners."
More wish children = less crime
But even beyond the possibly doubtful for some hormone theory, the 63-year-old has good arguments for his thesis. The possibility of contraception largely ensures that women in many countries only have children, if they want to. Really wanted and planned children, on the other hand, would be cared for and cared for better, and would tend to become more balanced people with less inclination to leaning, sadism, etc.
Monogamy protects against "armed groups"
And even if that does not convince you yet, wait until you hear Pinker's third argument per emancipation-peace theory: With increasing global monogamy, there's just less frustration and "leftover". Yes, just think about it: If a man can have several women, get rid of a lot of other men at all and then be much more willing to "engage in gangs or armed groups," says Pinker.
So, again summarized: The emancipation of the woman leads, inter alia, that less brutal testosterone dominates the world, less unloved children are begotten and less frustrated men join a criminal gang. As a result, today no longer tortured, less murdered and barely enslaved? And if something happens, everyone is genuinely shocked.
We can discuss everything? except the where to
Admittedly, in this streamlined form, the theses of the scientist seem daring to provocative. But he's right in two ways: our social rules today demand more peacefulness and nonviolence than in the past. And women have today? Although not enough? but still more to say than in the 14th century.
Which connection exists exactly between these two developments and what role hormones, children and monogamy play in it must certainly be further investigated, discussed and analyzed and is certainly very, very, very complex. But as long as we keep the path to a more peaceful and equitable world, we can discuss everything for my sake.
For information: In February, Pinker's new book, "Enlightenment Now," will be published, in which he wants to prove that the world is better today than it ever was ".
