Has there been any scientific research done into why men are severely lacking in empathy and compassion and borderline incapable of long term thinking and higher reasoning?

FairSoup9 · 2020-01-02T02:29:34+00:00

https://www.livescience.com/61987-empathy-women-men.html

This study says that empathy isn't genetic, which leads me to believe that men's lack of empathy is probably some kind of learned behavior?

cassabell1894 · 2020-01-02T04:04:25+00:00

I've read a lot of studies on this, and they are all very differing and contradictory. Some say male genetics, some say it's due to socialisation. It makes me sad when I think about how the world for so long has been controlled by men, because it's clear how many many of the issues faced in this world for over centuries are due to their lack of empathy and long term thinking. Their violence and lack of impulse control destroys this beautiful planet.

Anyway, that did not help answer your question, but I'm glad you asked because I would like to know too!

Novemberinthechair · 2020-01-02T04:14:26+00:00

[deleted]

jas_jas_ · 2020-01-02T04:47:57+00:00

It's a choice. It's because they CAN be this way. They "get away with it". Why be any different? They won't until there's consequences. Empathy is cultivated and they choose not to.

grimreapersdtr · 2020-01-02T10:30:06+00:00

I think it’s probably hard to find reliable studies as they are overwhelmingly funded/run by men.

Crimson_Oblivion · 2020-01-02T09:17:24+00:00

He doesn’t have to have any of those qualities to become financially successful.

In my experience, a man is brought up unquestionably believing in his male privilege, regardless of whether or not he suffers from the above referenced qualities. He could be the type that respects women because he was raised by a caring mom whom he loves.

On the other hand, he could be a *smart man (who hates his mother), and has figured out that if he fakes having these qualities, he can lure women into having sex. This is the scariest type of man, and sociopathic in a way, so be in the lookout.

2020-01-02T04:52:13+00:00

I will hazard a guess and say it's a mixture of testosterone and not being raised right.

You know this from dogs. There are certain breeds that have a particularly dangerous reputation but will still make good companions if you raise them right.

From the first moment on, most men are raised in misogynistic and often violent atmosphere. The results are predictable.

Janedola · 2020-01-02T21:31:12+00:00

I think it's upbringing. I have 2 brothers, one a bit older than me, and one that's a little younger. Going to school with them as a kid made me realize being a little boy is brutal.

School-aged boys have some of the most unforgiving social hierarchies, and they are almost entirely based on violence, sports and dominance. Boys reinforce each other with displays of aggression. "Beating someone up" seems to be a social promotion of sorts, and this continues into teenhood, where beating up each other is replaced with how many girls they can "score".

Any boy that falls out of line is a "faggot", a "weakling" or a "pussy". I saw it first-hand with my little brother, who's always ignored the macho shit

extraacct1234 · 2020-01-02T04:48:21+00:00

There have been studies showing testosterone influences this.

FluffandRainclouds · 2020-01-02T04:45:46+00:00

Not sure about specific studies, but honestly I think it's learned. I think most human beings are capable of empathy (even sociopaths are said to have an empathy "switch" they refuse to turn on), but empathy can absolutely be strengthened or dampened. Anyone remember the Zimbardo or Milgram experiments?

With growing up, I was knocked down a fee pegs with some hardships that had nothing to do with privilege and all with luck. I realized how damn lucky I was in my particular life situation. I wouldn't relive the bad experiences, but I am so grateful for my morals and greater sense of empathy/compassion compared to my former self. Years later, once I fully understood how we are literally drowning in the patriarchy and intersectional factors, I realized how to stand up for myself and others better more effectively.

My theory? A lot of men don't get those humbling life experiences due to privilege. They are stuck in my definition of "immaturity/former self" and never matured further despite being chronological adults late 20s or older. Or, they had hardships and didn't have the right psychological help/social circle to learn the right "lessons" from the hardships (e.g. these men blame others and stay bitter rather than using experiences to help others). Female children are taught more about nurturing, IMO. "Boys will be boys" versus "girls mature faster."

To boot, a lot of boys don't have a strong male figure (father, uncle, whatever) who is a key role model as to what healthy masculinity looks like. Helicopter mothers who inappropriagely use their boys as an emotional crutch (see JustNoMIL subreddit) can create resentment, obligation, and/or a sense of entitlement ("I"m special because my mom always said so.") Boys are taught that anything feminine is "bad" and start using "gay" to describe things they find stupid. Combine that with boys finding hardcore, violent internet porn as young as age 8 (imagine how that would mess up your head) and many smoking pot as early as age 11 or so. Pot can have medicinal uses, but it disrupts brain development in adolescents. A lot of young men today are lazy, lack drive, and act soft/passive-aggressive because they have been used to instant gratification and enabling in adolescence IMO.

Men who say "oh yes, this culture tortures women in this way, but blah blah it's their culture and blah blah moral relativism," come off as (rightfully) repugnant. But, maybe their social learning left them so disadvantaged with empathy yet so incredibly sure of their nonexistent competence (Dunning-Kruger effect). Arrested development and a sense of superiority is a dangerous combination.

Last, you have the issue of the economy. It's not women's fault men can't find all the same factory jobs with great benefits/pay like decades ago. But because of what they are taught, it's easier to passive-aggressively take out frustrations on women.

Our double-standards ruin us as a society. What we do and think everyday shapes and re-shapes our brain's neural pathways. I hate being targeted by the patriarchy, but my conscience would scream if I were born a dude who doesn't actively harm people but willfully ignores/misunderstands social issues, invalidates women's feelings, and doesn't really help anyone. Thankfully there are HVM who understand/are good allies.

ItsFreezen · 2020-01-02T16:51:40+00:00

This isn't scientific but years ago I came across a video of a man saying I'm paraphrasing " Women need to understand how to capture a man's heart which is the size of Miami"

jetpatch · 2020-01-02T17:12:40+00:00

Social skills are a skill some people are naturally better at then than others and you need to practise them to keep them sharp. It's a bit of one and a bit of the other.

There is a brain type (s type) which is not great at emotional intelligence but good at problem solving. This is sometimes called the male brain however only around 50% of men have that brain type and 20% of women have if so it doesn't explain why the other half of men have similar issues and why one in 5 women don't seem to.

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