I recently came across a thought-provoking article in the journal NeuroReport. Don't ask what I was doing reading it, I really couldn't tell you. Interestingly though, according to research carried out at Stanford University, there seems to be a link in the brain between sex and taking financial risk.
Apparently, this only affects men, at least that's what the female researcher must have assumed as she saw it fit to test only men. This study relied heavily upon brain scans.
The young men were shown erotic pictures and the portion of the brain that showed activity also exhibited the same response when financial risks were taken.
The lead researcher did state the reason for not including women in the study group: Seemingly, it is too difficult to find an erotic image that would appeal to heterosexual women.
The sample size you ask? The study group consisted of 15 young heterosexual men. The lead researcher, who was a finance professor, chalked this result up to an "evolutionary sense for both money and women." Perhaps she has a minor in anthropology as well, hell, I'd even settle for one in psychology.
The article did not mention any training or experience in either field. I would think it a prudent prerequisite for conducting this kind of study.
An article released by The Associated Press takes it even a step further to suggest that it is men's evolutionary role to act as providers and to attract women. It also blames the current downturn in the economy on this type of excessive risk taking.
So what we've learned from a whopping 15 young heterosexual men is that apparently women are frigid and men are not only perverts and conformist dolts, but they are also responsible for the ills of the economy. Also, research at a top university can be conducted by anyone, even if it falls outside the scope of his or her area of expertise.
Not to mention this got published in a peer-reviewed journal. Perhaps I'm the only one who found this poor attempt at research to be lacking objectivity and scientific credibility, but men and women alike should be offended by these kinds of generalizations.
That being said, I do have plans with a seriously sexy woman this weekend, and at least I now understand why I've always felt the need to pay for dinner. I assumed it was out of some sense of chivalry and respect, but now I know it's just because the blood has drained from my brain to my extremities.
Perhaps this Saturday night, I should do the financially prudent thing and just stay home … nah.
Jamey can be reached by e-mail at: jamey.sackett@asu.edu.
