Study points to link between body size and economic selfishness

By Bernard Muthaka

Nairobi, Kenya:A new study may give exasperated voters some clues on the likelihood of their candidates supporting more equitable distribution of resources. It says men with big upper bodies tend to frown upon redistribution of wealth.

Published this month in the Journal Psychological Science, the study says that men’s upper-body strength predicts their political opinions on economic redistribution, a trait inherited from our primitive forefathers.

“In the days of our early ancestors, decisions about the distribution of resources weren’t made in courthouses or legislative offices, but through shows of strength,” says the study, associating physical strength with ability to defend or acquire resources.

The authors believe that the trait continues to influence behaviour today, an indication that politics has in a sense always been a part of the human species.

Bicep size

In their study, the researchers looked at data on bicep size, socioeconomic status, and support for economic redistribution.

The data showed that men with high upper-body strength were against redistribution. “In all the three countries surveyed, physically, strong males consistently pursue the self-interested position on redistribution,” said the study. Perhaps supporting the notion that women make better leaders, the researchers found no link between upper-body strength and opinions about redistribution among women.

 The authors attributed this to the possibility that throughout history, women have had more to lose in physical aggression.

The study comes shortly after researchers from the University of California published provocative findings associating wealthy individuals to unethical behaviour in society. That study tested two hypotheses; that poor people who live in circumstances of great want are wont to behave unethical to increase their resources and, on the other hand, that because of access to greater resources and freedom, the rich are more predisposed to misbehaviour. Some of the distasteful mannerism they associated with wealth included snobbishness, less empathy with others’ plight, checking cell phones during conversations, cutting off other drivers in traffic and reluctance to give way to pedestrians.

“We reason that increased resources and independence from others cause people to prioritise self-interest over others’ welfare and to perceive greed as positive, which in turn gives rise to increased unethical behaviour,” said the authors. Commentators have since attributed more serious phenomena such as the global financial crisis to a ‘culture of cynicism and greed’ by wealthy business people.

 


 

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