The Importance of Culture in Reducing Sexual Assault

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Culture can alter or influence the expression of our nature. Having monogamous marriage instead of polygamy turns out to be incredibly important for reducing a sexual assault and male physical violence. So i think that deserves a lot research, just, you know, again, looking around the globe at what other countries and cultures are doing or how. But even, you know,. you don't want to implement the most effective policies because they might be violating our basic human rights.

In episode 204, Michael Shermer speaks with codirector of undergraduate studies in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, Carole Hooven, PhD about testosterone. While most people agree that sex differences in human behavior exist, they disagree about the reasons. But the science is clear: testosterone is a potent force in human society, driving the bodies and behavior of the sexes apart. But, as Hooven shows in T, it does so in concert with genes and culture to produce a vast variety of male and female behavior. And, crucially, the fact that many sex differences are grounded in biology provides no support for restrictive gender norms or patriarchal values. In understanding testosterone, we better understand ourselves and one another — and how we might build a fairer, safer society.