Autism-spectrum-disorder Quote by Simon Baron-Cohen
““According to Laura Betzig, in the first civilizations (ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Aztec, the Inca, imperial India, and China), “powerful men mate with hundreds of women, pass their power on to a son by one legitimate wife, and take the lives of men who get in their way.” As I explained earlier, these men may have been powerful because they were good systemizers. The fact that they eliminated those who stood up to them implies that they were also low empathizers. And they certainly seemed to have an efficient means of disseminating their genes (polygyny). So we can envision how the genotype for brain type S might have spread widely throughout a male population.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Evolutionary psychology discussion, date unknown
Powerful men historically used polygyny and violence to secure status, suggesting low empathy and high systemizing traits.
In simple terms: Power and aggression can be linked to certain brain types.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how biology may influence social structures.
Themes
power
gender
evolutionary psychology
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
theoretical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- anthropology
- gender studies
- political analysis
- social policy
Key Concepts
systemizing
empathy
genetics
polygyny
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does culture play in shaping power dynamics?
- Can empathy be cultivated despite genetic predispositions?
A Different Perspective
Biological explanations can oversimplify complex cultural factors.
