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
Recommended
