- Men excel in directions
- Study: upbringing, not evolution
- Cultural factors impact abilities
It is said that males are more adept at following directions than women, and a recent study purports to have identified the origin of this advantage.
While hypotheses have suggested that the ability originates from evolution, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers have determined that it is contingent on upbringing.
The team discovered that boys are more likely than girls to be encouraged to play outside. This encouragement increases their navigational skills and exposes them to outdoor environments.
Scholars postulated that evolution significantly influenced the situation in the past. Males were more likely than women to have traveled farther from home to support their families.
The researchers noted, however, that in such a scenario, the genetic trait would have been inherited by female offspring.
‘… It is fairly apparent to me that the human sex difference is the result of culture and not evolution,’ said Justin Rhodes, affiliated with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Further, he stated, “The tendency for males to exhibit marginally superior performance in animals compared to females, regardless of sex differences in home range size, is probably a consequence of sex hormones.” This is consistent with phenomena such as acne and male-patterned baldness during adolescence.
“They are side effects that are caused by testosterone but serve no purpose,” he explained.
The research, published in The Royal Society Journal, examined the origin of wayfinding abilities in 21 species, including humans.
In addition to crustaceans and horses, the sample comprised chimpanzees, the poison-dying frog, and pandas.
Research Methodology and Enhanced Findings
Rhodes et al. initially examined the home range measurements of the species. They aimed to ascertain the distance each gender traversed from their base, employing methods such as trapping, radio-tracking, and observation.
A year was spent observing the species’ behaviours. The researchers aimed to compare their navigational strategies “with and without a pronounced breeding season.”
Data was collected from human subjects through the administration of virtual or real-world wayfinding assessments. Which were categorised as follows: map reading, verbal directions, and city directions with the aid of a map.
Rhodes undertook a comparable investigation more than ten years ago. However, the outcomes were constrained by the scant number of species—11—and the absence of human involvement.
By nearly doubling the number of species examined in the recently published study compared to the 2012 study, scientists were able to acquire a more comprehensive comprehension of the mechanisms and rationales underlying the superior navigational abilities of men.
“Substantial resources have been devoted to testing the sex-specific adaptation… as an explanation for sex differences in directions abilities over the past half-century,” the study authors wrote.
They continued, “In a prior meta-analysis, we determined that the evidence was scant, and in this paper, with an expanded dataset, we find even less evidence to support the… hypothesis.”
Research Methodology and Enhanced Findings
Female animals, including humans, tend to go further from their homes, but males are better navigators, scholars found.
Sexual performance or behaviour differences may result from biological or cultural factors unrelated to evolution, according to the study.
“Join the Webull revolution in the UK and receive your free shares today.”
According to the study, future research should examine the impact of socialisation and culture on navigational roles instead of approaching the topic through the lens of evolution.
Additionally, it was stated that cultures in which males and females exhibit “similar ranging behaviour” eliminate spatial directions. In such cultures, individuals are reared without regard to gender.
Further investigation is warranted to ascertain how brain function is modified to confer navigational superiority upon males.
Rhodes stated, “The fact that the trait in humans is contingent on upbringing provides an answer to the question of how women can bridge this gap.”
“It is merely a matter of experience,” he reiterated.
Buyout store Oakley Steers win £500m auto repair shop contract
