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My unresearched pet theory is that, at least in mammals, males are risk-takers, do stupid things, and are where the genome gets to try new things, because they'

My unresearched pet theory is that, at least in mammals, males are risk-takers, do stupid things, and are where the genome gets to try new things, because they're more "disposable" when propagating a species.

thedevil 6y ago
It's not just mammals and I wouldn't frame it as them being disposable when propagating the species. There's a bigger payout at the right tail of the distribution for male genes. Male genes can sometimes have 1000 offspring. Female genes generally can't. Male genes are generally more likely to have 0 offspring. So male genes have less to lose and more to gain by taking risks, behavioral and biological risks. See also male variance hypothesis. This varies by species and the pattern is likely stronger in more polygynous species and weaker in more monogamous species. See also sexual dimorphism. Human males take more behavioral risks on average and have higher mortality rates throughout life (not only from behavior). I warn you though, this is a controversial subject because of some of its possible implications. Also I should disclose that I'm not an expert, just a layperson interested in this and some related topics.
- raducu 6y ago
  >I warn you though, this is a controversial subject because of some of its possible implications. This is a really sad state of science we are living through.
- ZephyrBlu 6y ago
  > I warn you though, this is a controversial subject because of some of its possible implications I can imagine some of the implications people could come up with, but I'm curious which ones come to mind for you.
  - worker767424 6y ago
    It gets into James Damore territory pretty quickly.
watwut 6y ago
Autistic I knew were not risk takes. They were excessively risk adverse and fearful. I an talking about males.
- mkl 6y ago
  I think it's their genes that have taken the risk, of being more of an outlier.

thedevil 6y ago

It's not just mammals and I wouldn't frame it as them being disposable when propagating the species. There's a bigger payout at the right tail of the distribution for male genes. Male genes can sometimes have 1000 offspring. Female genes generally can't. Male genes are generally more likely to have 0 offspring. So male genes have less to lose and more to gain by taking risks, behavioral and biological risks. See also male variance hypothesis. This varies by species and the pattern is likely stronger in more polygynous species and weaker in more monogamous species. See also sexual dimorphism. Human males take more behavioral risks on average and have higher mortality rates throughout life (not only from behavior). I warn you though, this is a controversial subject because of some of its possible implications. Also I should disclose that I'm not an expert, just a layperson interested in this and some related topics.

raducu 6y ago
>I warn you though, this is a controversial subject because of some of its possible implications. This is a really sad state of science we are living through.
ZephyrBlu 6y ago
> I warn you though, this is a controversial subject because of some of its possible implications I can imagine some of the implications people could come up with, but I'm curious which ones come to mind for you.
- worker767424 6y ago
  It gets into James Damore territory pretty quickly.

watwut 6y ago

Autistic I knew were not risk takes. They were excessively risk adverse and fearful. I an talking about males.

mkl 6y ago
I think it's their genes that have taken the risk, of being more of an outlier.