Intergroup Competition

Intergroup Competition Intergroup Competition

Intergroup Competition Observed in humans and nonhuman species Responses

Male-intergroup aggression Females- rely on group associations

Manifestations Boys tend to make friends based on groups Girls focus individuals

Increasing reproductive success Males- interdependence helps protect resources Females- protect offspring

Males would show cognitive responses that reflect acceleration of positive coalitions ideation and women would show facilitated access to positive care or positive friendship ideations

HypothesisHypothesis

Males would show cognitive responses that reflect acceleration of positive coalitions ideation and women would show facilitated access to positive care or positive friendship ideations

Bugental, B. D. & Beaulieu, A. D. (2009). Sex Differences in Response to Coalitional Threat. Evolution and Human Behavior, 30, 238-243.

Results Results

Males- quicker response time to positive coalition ideation

Females- quicker response time to the tend/befriend ideation

Bugental, B. D. & Beaulieu, A. D. (2009). Sex Differences in Response to Coalitional Threat. Evolution and Human Behavior, 30, 238-243.

Adapted from Bugental and Beaulieu, 2009, pg 241

ImplicationImplication

Supports the claim that men are more involved in intergroup aggression and women build networks for protection

Friendship-building differences

Bugental, B. D. & Beaulieu, A. D. (2009). Sex Differences in Response to Coalitional Threat. Evolution and Human Behavior, 30, 238-243.

Critical ReviewCritical Review

Interesting Women's relational skills equip them to serve a

protective role with offspring (which ultimately fosters greater reproductive success). vs. - male interdependence with larger groups would also foster their reproductive success as a result of shared efforts in acquiring and defending

Males may be more successful as a result of direct shared engagement in coalitional competition (involving “fight vs. flight” activity) vs. females may be more successful if they increase their level of interpersonal affiliation with others

“The general speed advantage found for females in language processing” (240)

Bugental, B. D. & Beaulieu, A. D. (2009). Sex Differences in Response to Coalitional Threat. Evolution and Human Behavior, 30, 238-243.

Critical Review Critical Review

Concerns Why did they use a scenario of a village when the

participants were college students? How would the results have varied if they had used a story regarding a group project or scholarship opportunities? It seems that college students would be able to relate to and identify more with a scenario involving their own environment - college.

What do these results mean for our society when we are trying to teach women to be more independent and men that it's okay to be more sensitive and "tend/befriend?" These responses to coalitional threat seem to demonstrate perpetual gender norms. Opposite sex scenarios should have been included in order to study responses to characters of the opposite sex.

Bugental, B. D. & Beaulieu, A. D. (2009). Sex Differences in Response to Coalitional Threat. Evolution and Human Behavior, 30, 238-243.

Discussion Questions Discussion Questions

These findings show results for threats not related to their coalition group (rival coalition, strangers etc.). Do you think males and females would react similarly to in-group threats? 

Disregarding current anti-bullying campaigns, how do historical social norms regarding bulling for boys verse girls reflect the findings of this study? How were boys told to deal with bullying compared to girls?

Bugental, B. D. & Beaulieu, A. D. (2009). Sex Differences in Response to Coalitional Threat. Evolution and Human Behavior, 30, 238-243.

Video Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPu-CKhhqSc