sex and schadenfreude

i've been seeing more and more research on behavioral gender differences lately. i love it; it's both interesting and fabulously politically incorrect.

it makes sense that we derive enjoyment from seeing our enemies suffer. however, a new study suggests that men enjoy watching their enemies suffer more than women do. this could help explain a host of behavioral gender differences, as men may be facing different neural trade-offs. now i want to see a study that measures whether or not men are more willing to "pay" to punish unfair trades in the lab - i'll wager they do.

see other posts gender differences in intelligence, performance on standardized tests, and pain, and the biological mechanism for some gender differences.

ref: Tania Singer, Ben Seymour, John P. O'Doherty, Klaas E. Stephan, Raymond J. Dolan and Chris D. Frith. "Empathic neural responses are modulated by the perceived fairness of others." Nature Jan. 18 2006

Labels: decision making