The Dissenter

#1125 Daniel Fessler: Physical Formidability, Male Muscularity, Pathogen-Avoidance & More

Jul 18, 2025
Guest
Daniel Fessler
Daniel Fessler, a Professor of Biological Anthropology at UCLA, shares intriguing insights into human behavior. He delves into physical formidability, revealing how perceptions of strength influence social dynamics and risk-taking. Fessler discusses cultural portrayals of male muscularity, highlighting the disconnect between men's and women's preferences. The conversation explores moral parochialism and how social context shapes moral judgments, along with the evolutionary significance of disgust linked to pathogens.
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INSIGHT

Understanding Physical Formidability

  • Physical formidability is the perceived likelihood of winning a fight based on physical aspects like size and strength.
  • Humans mentally represent size and strength to assess formidability, even if actual fighting outcomes depend on other factors such as weapons.
INSIGHT

Allies Reduce Threat Perception

  • The presence of allies reduces the perceived physical formidability of opponents.
  • Being backed by comrades makes potential threats seem less large and strong due to increased tactical assets.
INSIGHT

Risk-Taking as a Social Signal

  • Young men engage more in voluntary physical risk-taking, which signals danger and value as allies.
  • Risk-taking signals persistence and difficulty to deter in conflicts, enhancing social status and deterrence power.
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