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The Scientific Fundamentalist

A look at the hard truths about human nature.

Fantasies
Why Men Lie Up and Women Lie Down

Satoshi Kanazawa on May 8, 2011

Both men and women lie, but they lie about different (and predictable) things.

Both men and women lie, but they lie about different (and predictable) things.

Evolutionary Psychology
How Is Steven Pinker NOT Like Michael Jordan?

Satoshi Kanazawa on May 1, 2011

The three men I admire most [are] Paul Shaffer, Robin Williams, and Dave Barry. To this short list must now be added Steven Pinker.

The three men I admire most [are] Paul Shaffer, Robin Williams, and Dave Barry. To this short list must now be added Steven Pinker.

Mating
Why Is eHarmony So Successful?

Satoshi Kanazawa on April 24, 2011

Is eHarmony successful for the same reason that conservative churches are strong?

Is eHarmony successful for the same reason that conservative churches are strong?

Evolutionary Psychology
Tina Fey on the Internet

Satoshi Kanazawa on April 18, 2011

"The internet is the repository of all human garbage. It's the worst place in the world."

Tina Fey

"The internet is the repository of all human garbage. It's the worst place in the world."

Tina Fey

Sex
Why Are Older Parents More Likely to Have Daughters?

Satoshi Kanazawa on April 18, 2011

One of the consistent findings in the field of reproductive medicine is that older parents are more likely to have daughters. Why?

One of the consistent findings in the field of reproductive medicine is that older parents are more likely to have daughters. Why?

Beauty
Criminals Look Different From Noncriminals

Satoshi Kanazawa on March 13, 2011

As it turns out, humans possess the ability to tell who's a criminal and who's not simply by looking at them.

As it turns out, humans possess the ability to tell who's a criminal and who's not simply by looking at them.

Evolutionary Psychology
Fun with Binomial Distributions

Satoshi Kanazawa on March 10, 2011

On the new ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine (a new Thomas Schlamme vehicle without Aaron Sorkin), all five Caucasian lead actors (Matthew Perry, Allison Janney, Andrea Anders, Portia Doubleday, and Nate Torrence) have piercing blue eyes.

On the new ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine (a new Thomas Schlamme vehicle without Aaron Sorkin), all five Caucasian lead actors (Matthew Perry, Allison Janney, Andrea Anders, Portia Doubleday, and Nate Torrence) have piercing blue eyes.

Sex
Do Men Try to Impress Prostitutes?

Satoshi Kanazawa on March 6, 2011

There is at least one contradiction in Superfreakonomics.

There is at least one contradiction in Superfreakonomics.

Sex
Superfreak, Yes; Onomics, No

Satoshi Kanazawa on February 27, 2011

I was a big fan of Freakonomics, but I was disappointed by its sequel, Superfreakonomics.

I was a big fan of Freakonomics, but I was disappointed by its sequel, Superfreakonomics.

Evolutionary Psychology
The Second Amendment Right to Keep and Bear Nuclear Weapons

Satoshi Kanazawa on February 20, 2011

The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees the right of every American citizen to own and operate their own nuclear weapons.

The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees the right of every American citizen to own and operate their own nuclear weapons.

Evolutionary Psychology
Three-Year Anniversary

Satoshi Kanazawa on February 14, 2011

It’s Valentine’s Day again, so it must be another anniversary for the Scientific Fundamentalist blog.

It’s Valentine’s Day again, so it must be another anniversary for the Scientific Fundamentalist blog.

Child Development
More Intelligent People Are More Likely to Binge Drink and Get Drunk

Satoshi Kanazawa on February 13, 2011

Not only are more intelligent individuals more likely to consume more alcohol more frequently, they are more likely to engage in binge drinking and to get drunk.

Not only are more intelligent individuals more likely to consume more alcohol more frequently, they are more likely to engage in binge drinking and to get drunk.

Genetics
More on Why Stepfathers Kill Their Children

Satoshi Kanazawa on February 6, 2011

Yet another very astute reader has proposed a way to adjudicate between the two competing hypotheses on why stepfathers kill their children.

Yet another very astute reader has proposed a way to adjudicate between the two competing hypotheses on why stepfathers kill their children.

Evolutionary Psychology
If Beautiful People Have Daughters, Why Do Posh and Becks Have Three Sons?

Satoshi Kanazawa on January 30, 2011

One of the first questions that journalists and other civilians often ask me when I describe my repeated findings that beautiful people have more daughters is “So why do Posh and Becks have three sons?” Such questions, while understandable at some level, nonetheless betray ignorance of the danger of relying on manwho statistics, in other words, anecdotes.

One of the first questions that journalists and other civilians often ask me when I describe my repeated findings that beautiful people have more daughters is “So why do Posh and Becks have three sons?” Such questions, while understandable at some level, nonetheless betray ignorance of the danger of relying on manwho statistics, in other words, anecdotes.

Beauty
Women Are More Beautiful Than Men

Satoshi Kanazawa on January 23, 2011

If beautiful people have more daughters, and if physical attractiveness is heritable, then it follows that, over time, women become physically more attractive than men.

If beautiful people have more daughters, and if physical attractiveness is heritable, then it follows that, over time, women become physically more attractive than men.

Sex
Beautiful People Have More Daughters

Satoshi Kanazawa on January 16, 2011

Physically more attractive parents are more likely to have daughters than physically less attractive parents, both in the United States and in the United Kingdom.

Physically more attractive parents are more likely to have daughters than physically less attractive parents, both in the United States and in the United Kingdom.