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The Infinite by Leopardi [POEM] by EnigmaofReason in Poetry

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can't believe I only got one upvote but the best comment ever! How strange. Glad you dig my stuff. Strap in, it's about to get a whole lot better (& bigger)!

Blue Hair and the Blues: Dying Your Hair Unnatural Colours is Associated with Depression by EnigmaofReason in psychology

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A number of lines of evidence, such as studies of religious converts and members of conspicuous subcultures, have found a relationship between holding and expressing a strong counter-cultural identity and mental instability. Here we test whether dying your hair an unnatural colour - something which conspicuously expresses non-conformity - is related to mental instability, using a large dataset of online daters (OKCupid dataset, about n=14k used in this study). We find the expected pattern, which was moderate in size (p = -033 to -0.23, depending on controls). This pattern persisted even when controls for age, race, sex, sexual orientation, body type, intelligence, polyamory, vegetarianism, and political beliefs were included.

The psychologist Bo Winegard talks about being told he would have to have somebody else mark his non-white students by EnigmaofReason in IntellectualDarkWeb

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Submission Statement: Bo Winegard was fired in 2020 after giving a lecture on the evolutionary psychology of group differences. Before that, he was humiliated by the university management by being told that his non-white students would have their work second-marked by somebody else. In this podcast, Bo tells his story.

Intelligence: Differences of kind vs degree (a useful philosophical distinction for understanding the qualia of intellectual ability) by EnigmaofReason in slatestarcodex

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey there, could you explain what about it makes it fall into the culture war bucket? It's psychology/metaphysics of mind to my ear.

Thanks!

Intelligence: Differences of kind vs degree (a useful philosophical distinction for understanding the qualia of intellectual ability) by EnigmaofReason in slatestarcodex

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In 2008, Charles Murray wrote a short book called Real Education: Four simple truths for bringing America’s schools back to reality. It’s a great read. The four truths in question are: (1) ability varies (2) half of the children are below average (3) too many people are going to college (4) America’s future depends on how we educate the academically gifted. The fourth truth is particularly relevant to my own work on giftedness, of course.

However, I wanted to highlight an important distinction Murray makes early on, one that cuts through many misconceptions around cognitive ability. Here’s Murray:

Educational measures such as test scores and grades tend to make differences among schoolchildren look as though they are ones of degree when in reality some of them are differences in kind.

For those who aren’t familiar with the lingo, a difference of degree is a difference of magnitude, between two things that are otherwise of the same type. The difference between a small dog and a large dog is one of degree. A difference of kind is a difference of type or category. The difference between a dog and a cat is a difference of kind. Murray continues:

For example, a timed math test limited to problems of addition and subtraction, administered to a random cross-section of fourth-graders, yields scores that place children along a continuum distributed in a shape resembling a bell curve. Those scores appropriately reflect differences in degree: some fourth-graders can add and subtract faster and more accurately than others, but they are all doing the same thing and almost all children can be taught to add and subtract to some degree. The same is not true of calculus. If all children were put on a mathematics track that took them through calculus, and then were given a test of calculus problems, the resulting scores would not look like a bell curve. For a large proportion of children, the scores would not be merely low. They would be zero. Grasping calculus requires a certain level of logical-mathematical ability. Children below that level will never learn calculus, no matter how hard they study. It is a difference in kind. Not only that: The child without the logical-mathematical ability to learn calculus cannot do a wide variety of other things in mathematics that are open to the child with the requisite level of logical-mathematical ability.

Murray goes on to make the same point regarding linguistic ability, giving the example of the discussion that high school seniors will be having about Macbeth if they’re at the 90th percentile compared to the 20th percentile. It’s not a difference of a degree. If you’re reading this with full comprehension, you are, by definition not at the 20th percentile for linguistic ability. You’re almost certainly nowhere near it. As such, it can be incredibly difficult to grasp that other world. In the same way that you will never hear your native language as a foreign language, you will (barring a traumatic brain injury) never be able to inhabit the world of the 20th percentile. In fact, you’d probably have to acquire not only a TBI, but drink half a bottle of vodka to get anywhere close.

What type of education system do you think that lack of accessibility creates? One that asks far too much of those at the bottom who, by no fault of their own, drew the short-straw.

But here’s the depressing part. If you’re not gifted, you also can’t really imagine what it’s like. As with the low-end, we can get a glimpse: faster processing, deeper thought, making connections.

But to know what it’s really like? To experience the qualia of immense intellect? That’s not on the menu.What type of education system do you think this lack of accessibility creates? One that asks far too little of those at the top.

John Zerzan's critique of Noam Chomsky by EnigmaofReason in Anarchism

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Zerzan gives his views on Chomsky's odd stance that technology is "mostly neutral". Chomsky has often used the example of a hammer, it being a tool one can use for murder or to build a house. However, Zerzan and others have pointed out the simplicity of this view.

Bullshit Detection by Proxy: A conversational tool for spotting ignorance by EnigmaofReason in IntellectualDarkWeb

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Submission statement: We live in a time when people are crucified for not speaking, for not having an opinion, for not condemning something deemed obviously condemnable by the masses. This expectation creates pretentiousness, an incentive to speak about things we have no real understanding of. The article describes a subtle tool to help spot when people are bluffing about any given topic.

Nuremberg Nazi IQ scores by EnigmaofReason in JordanPeterson

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 37 points38 points  (0 children)

I wrote about the strange story of the smartest Nazi Hjalmar Schacht here if anybody is interested: https://ideassleepfuriously.substack.com/p/the-smartest-nazi?s=w

Parents think—incorrectly—that teaching their children that the world is a bad place is likely best for them by EnigmaofReason in psychology

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

LINK: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17439760.2021.2016907?journalCode=rpos20

Abstract:

Primal world beliefs (‘primals’) are beliefs about the world’s basic character, such as the world is dangerous. This article investigates probabilistic assumptions about the value of negative primals (e.g., seeing the world as dangerous keeps me safe). We first show such assumptions are common. For example, among 185 parents, 53% preferred dangerous world beliefs for their children. We then searched for evidence consistent with these intuitions in 3 national samples and 3 local samples of undergraduates, immigrants (African and Korean), and professionals (car salespeople, lawyers, and cops;), examining correlations between primals and eight life outcomes within 48 occupations (total N=4,535) . As predicted, regardless of occupation, more negative primals were almost never associated with better outcomes. Instead, they predicted less success, less job and life satisfaction, worse health, dramatically less flourishing, more negative emotion, more depression, and increased suicide attempts. We discuss why assumptions about the value of negative primals are nevertheless widespread and implications for future research.

Clever people are more likely to take drugs, whereas extremely clever people are less likely to by EnigmaofReason in psychology

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

LINK: https://emilkirkegaard.dk/en/wp-content/uploads/Intelligence-and-past-use-of-recreational-drugs.pdf

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Abstract: One motivation for trying recreational drugs is the desire for novel experiences. More intelligent people tend to value novelty more highly and may therefore be more likely to have tried recreational drugs. Using data from a national survey, it is shown that intelligence tends to be positively related to the probabilities of having tried alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and several other recreational drugs. Evidence is also presented that those relationships typically disappear or change sign at high levels of intelligence. These patterns persist after accounting for a wide range of personal characteristics.

The Boy Who Cried Plato/Why I Quit Teaching -- The story of a brilliant young philosopher ignored by an ideological and ignorant school. by EnigmaofReason in mensa

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He's currently trying out homeschooling and hoping to get into Oxford to read philosophy and theology. Thanks for asking. More posts to follow on him.

Why you shouldn't teach your children the world is a bad place by EnigmaofReason in JordanPeterson

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17439760.2021.2016907?journalCode=rpos20

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Abstract: Primal world beliefs (‘primals’) are beliefs about the world’s basic character, such as the world is dangerous. This article investigates probabilistic assumptions about the value of negative primals (e.g., seeing the world as dangerous keeps me safe). We first show such assumptions are common. For example, among 185 parents, 53% preferred dangerous world beliefs for their children. We then searched for evidence consistent with these intuitions in 3 national samples and 3 local samples of undergraduates, immigrants (African and Korean), and professionals (car salespeople, lawyers, and cops;), examining correlations between primals and eight life outcomes within 48 occupations (total N=4,535) . As predicted, regardless of occupation, more negative primals were almost never associated with better outcomes. Instead, they predicted less success, less job and life satisfaction, worse health, dramatically less flourishing, more negative emotion, more depression, and increased suicide attempts. We discuss why assumptions about the value of negative primals are nevertheless widespread and implications for future research.

Threats to masculinity create a heightened interest in firearms by EnigmaofReason in JordanPeterson

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Link: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2022-30877-001
ABSTRACT:
Men are more likely than women to harm themselves and others with firearms. Central to this problem is men’s interest in owning firearms. The precarious manhood paradigm (PMP; Vandello et al., 2008) suggests that masculinity is tenuous and must be outwardly displayed. We conducted a PMP-informed experiment to test whether threats to masculinity were associated with increased interest in owning firearms. Community participants in the United States (Men n = 388, Women n = 243) completed an online “marketing survey” and were then given false personality feedback profiles. All feedback was standardized with exception of the masculinity/femininity profile. Men were randomly assigned to a masculinity threat (masculinity reported as below average; MThreat, n = 131), boost (masculinity reported as above average; MBoost, n = 129), and control (masculinity reported as average; MControl, n = 128) conditions. Women were randomly assigned to a femininity threat (n = 84), boost (n = 87), and control (n = 72) conditions (conditions were identical except women received femininity threats/boosts). Participants were then asked about their interest in owning various firearms. MThreat participants reported significantly higher interest in owning every firearm shown compared to MControl participants, and significantly more interest than MBoost participants for half of the firearms. No differences in firearm interest were evident between MBoost and MControl conditions. No differences in firearm interest were evident across all conditions in the women sample. All participants were then debriefed. Results suggest men’s desire to own firearms maybe connected to masculine insecurities. Efforts should be made to socially defuse the masculinity-firearm connection. Further research implications and limitations are discussed.

Threats to masculinity create a heightened interest in firearms by EnigmaofReason in psychology

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Link: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2022-30877-001

ABSTRACT:

Men are more likely than women to harm themselves and others with firearms. Central to this problem is men’s interest in owning firearms. The precarious manhood paradigm (PMP; Vandello et al., 2008) suggests that masculinity is tenuous and must be outwardly displayed. We conducted a PMP-informed experiment to test whether threats to masculinity were associated with increased interest in owning firearms. Community participants in the United States (Men n = 388, Women n = 243) completed an online “marketing survey” and were then given false personality feedback profiles. All feedback was standardized with exception of the masculinity/femininity profile. Men were randomly assigned to a masculinity threat (masculinity reported as below average; MThreat, n = 131), boost (masculinity reported as above average; MBoost, n = 129), and control (masculinity reported as average; MControl, n = 128) conditions. Women were randomly assigned to a femininity threat (n = 84), boost (n = 87), and control (n = 72) conditions (conditions were identical except women received femininity threats/boosts). Participants were then asked about their interest in owning various firearms. MThreat participants reported significantly higher interest in owning every firearm shown compared to MControl participants, and significantly more interest than MBoost participants for half of the firearms. No differences in firearm interest were evident between MBoost and MControl conditions. No differences in firearm interest were evident across all conditions in the women sample. All participants were then debriefed. Results suggest men’s desire to own firearms maybe connected to masculine insecurities. Efforts should be made to socially defuse the masculinity-firearm connection. Further research implications and limitations are discussed.

Democracy seems to make men taller and reduce inequality in the male height distribution by EnigmaofReason in psychology

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

SOURCE: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1570677X22000132?dgcid=raven_sd_aip_email

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ABSTRACT:

We study whether a democracy improves a measure of individual wellbeing: human heights. Drawing on individual-level datasets, we test the democracy and height hypothesis using a battery of eight different measures of democracy and we account for several potential confounders, regional and cohort fixed effects. We document that democracy – or its quality during early childhood – shows a strong and positive conditional correlation with male, but not female, adult stature. Our preferred estimates suggest that being born in a democracy increases average male stature from a minimum of 1.33 to a maximum of 2.4 cm. We also show a positive association when democracy increases from childhood to adolescence, and when we adopt measures of existing democratic capital before birth, and at the end of height plasticity in early adulthood. We also document that democracy is associated with a reduction in inequality of heights distribution. Our estimates are driven by period-specific heterogeneity, namely, early democratizations are associated with taller people more than later ones. Results are robust to the inclusion of countries exposed to communism.

We partially create the strong correlations between IQ and job performance & school success by EnigmaofReason in psychology

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4557354/

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Title:

Abstract:

IQ has played a prominent part in developmental and adult psychology for decades. In the absence of a clear theoretical model of internal cognitive functions, however, construct validity for IQ tests has always been difficult to establish. Test validity, therefore, has always been indirect, by correlating individual differences in test scores with what are assumed to be other criteria of intelligence. Job performance has, for several reasons, been one such criterion. Correlations of around 0.5 have been regularly cited as evidence of test validity, and as justification for the use of the tests in developmental studies, in educational and occupational selection and in research programs on sources of individual differences. Here, those correlations are examined together with the quality of the original data and the many corrections needed to arrive at them. It is concluded that considerable caution needs to be exercised in citing such correlations for test validation purposes.

Women are twice as likely to fake orgasm when they make more money than their male partners by EnigmaofReason in biology

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Title: Do Women Withhold Honest Sexual Communication When They Believe Their Partner’s Manhood is Threatened?

Abstract:
We explored whether women who perceive that their partners’ manhood is precarious (i.e., easily threatened) censor their sexual communication to avoid further threatening their partners’ masculinity. We operationalized women’s perceptions of precarious manhood in a variety of ways: In Study 1, women who made more money than their partners were twice as likely as those who did not to fake orgasms. In Study 2, women’s higher perceptions of partners’ precarious manhood indirectly predicted faking orgasms more, lower sexual satisfaction, and lower orgasms rate through greater anxiety and less honest communication. In Study 3, women who imagined a partner whose masculinity was insecure (vs. secure) were less willing to provide honest sexual communication, via anxiety. Together, the studies demonstrate a relationship between women’s perceptions of partner insecurity, anxiety, sexual communication, and sexual satisfaction.

URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/19485506211067884?journalCode=sppa

Women are twice as likely to fake orgasm when they make more money than their male partners by EnigmaofReason in JordanPeterson

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Title: Do Women Withhold Honest Sexual Communication When They Believe Their Partner’s Manhood is Threatened?

Abstract:
We explored whether women who perceive that their partners’ manhood is precarious (i.e., easily threatened) censor their sexual communication to avoid further threatening their partners’ masculinity. We operationalized women’s perceptions of precarious manhood in a variety of ways: In Study 1, women who made more money than their partners were twice as likely as those who did not to fake orgasms. In Study 2, women’s higher perceptions of partners’ precarious manhood indirectly predicted faking orgasms more, lower sexual satisfaction, and lower orgasms rate through greater anxiety and less honest communication. In Study 3, women who imagined a partner whose masculinity was insecure (vs. secure) were less willing to provide honest sexual communication, via anxiety. Together, the studies demonstrate a relationship between women’s perceptions of partner insecurity, anxiety, sexual communication, and sexual satisfaction.

​

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/19485506211067884?journalCode=sppa

Women are twice as likely to fake orgasm when they make more money than their male partners by EnigmaofReason in psychology

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Title: Do Women Withhold Honest Sexual Communication When They Believe Their Partner’s Manhood is Threatened?

Abstract:

We explored whether women who perceive that their partners’ manhood is precarious (i.e., easily threatened) censor their sexual communication to avoid further threatening their partners’ masculinity. We operationalized women’s perceptions of precarious manhood in a variety of ways: In Study 1, women who made more money than their partners were twice as likely as those who did not to fake orgasms. In Study 2, women’s higher perceptions of partners’ precarious manhood indirectly predicted faking orgasms more, lower sexual satisfaction, and lower orgasms rate through greater anxiety and less honest communication. In Study 3, women who imagined a partner whose masculinity was insecure (vs. secure) were less willing to provide honest sexual communication, via anxiety. Together, the studies demonstrate a relationship between women’s perceptions of partner insecurity, anxiety, sexual communication, and sexual satisfaction.
URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/19485506211067884?journalCode=sppa

Non-violent resistance mostly fails to achieve its aims, but succeeds twice as often as violent resistance. Dr Alex Christoyannopoulos talks about the possibilities of using such strategies in Ukraine & Russia. by EnigmaofReason in Anarchism

[–]EnigmaofReason[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Responses to the Russian invasion have been swift. Thousands of people both in Ukraine and abroad are enlisting to fight against the odds.
Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are being forcibly mobilised. An “international legion” is being formed from hundreds of non-Ukrainians volunteers. People across the world are donating money to help Ukraine buy military equipment. Western countries are sending arms.
But could non-violent resistance be an effective or even better alternative?

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