Distance Running as an Ideal Domain for Showing a Sex Difference in Competitiveness

被引:62
作者
Deaner, Robert O. [1 ]
机构
[1] Grand Valley State Univ, Dept Psychol, Allendale, MI 49401 USA
关键词
Motivation; Competition; Runners; Sex differences; Title IX; NATIONS TESTING EVOLUTIONARY; GENDER-DIFFERENCES; TRAINING CHARACTERISTICS; WOMENS UNDERREPRESENTATION; BILATERAL SYMMETRY; PERSONALITY-TRAITS; PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY; RISK-TAKING; PERFORMANCE; RUNNERS;
D O I
10.1007/s10508-012-9965-z
中图分类号
B849 [应用心理学];
学科分类号
040203 ;
摘要
Men are over-represented in the arts, sciences, and sports. This has been hypothesized to reflect an evolved male predisposition for enduring competitiveness or long-term motivation to improve one's performance and "show-off." Evidence for this hypothesis is equivocal, however, because there are viable alternative explanations for men's dominance in most cultural display domains. Here, I argue that distance running is an ideal domain for addressing this issue. Distance running is ideal because it indicates enduring competitiveness, allows objective comparisons, and is accessible, acceptable, and popular for both men and women. I review recent studies and present new data showing that substantially more men than women run relatively fast in the U.S., that this sex difference in relative performance can be attributed, at least in part, to men's greater training motivation, and that this pattern has been stable for several decades. Distance running thus provides compelling evidence for an evolved male predisposition for enduring competitiveness. I conclude with suggestions regarding how variation in achievement motivation can be informed by considering how evolved predispositions interact with environmental and social conditions.
引用
收藏
页码:413 / 428
页数:16
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