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Brain research on boys’ preference for video games and girls’ for social media

wsj.com

11–20 of 199 posts

Re: Brain research on boys’ preference for video games and girls’ for social media

#14

Why is this flagged+dead?

Because people who say they believe in science have a really hard time accepting the cognitive dissonance that arises when science contradicts their beliefs. Windows shutdown sound plays and they flag it.

Re: Brain research on boys’ preference for video games and girls’ for social media

#15
Viewing the initial question from a perspective of social status the answers the article makes have pretty simple answers. Males competing between other males in video games and win gains a perceived gain in social status, so when they put down the game and face others around them there is a natural clash as the social status gain is seen nor recognized by the social environment outside the game. Aggression is common in most societies as the cultural accepted method to defend social status, so from outside it look like video games make males aggressive.

Females compete for social status more on social media, and thus social gains and losses occur on their mobile phone. As a result it look like social media cause females to become aggressive (with the cultural methods of aggressiveness that is appropriate in a given society).

With this perspective we get the exact behavior that the article highlight with no difference in brains. Same brain pathways, same biological reaction, just two different social status competitions (females vs females, males vs males) and two different cultural accepted behaviors when it comes to defending social status.

Re: Brain research on boys’ preference for video games and girls’ for social media

#17

Why is this flagged+dead?

Because people who say they believe in science have a really hard time accepting the cognitive dissonance that arises when science contradicts their beliefs. Windows shutdown sound plays and they flag it.

> Because people who say they believe in science have a really hard time accepting the cognitive dissonance that arises when science contradicts their beliefs

Exactly this. And it's fascinating and educational to observe. I wouldn't recommend to intervene though, just make an observation and move on.

Re: Brain research on boys’ preference for video games and girls’ for social media

#18

Why is this flagged+dead?

Because people who say they believe in science have a really hard time accepting the cognitive dissonance that arises when science contradicts their beliefs. Windows shutdown sound plays and they flag it.

Oh right, I forgot flagging is done by the community.

Addendum: I can kinda understand it though. While research like this might be correct and is definitely important, it can make it sound like "all men" or "all women" think this way, to some extent, making those who are different feel invalid. (Maybe a bit of a personal topic but I'm currently thinking a lot about my gender and identity and stuff like this is kinda making me scared.)

Additionally, to some this might make it seem like it's not worth welcoming diversity in tech. (Which is also not true IMO.)

Re: Brain research on boys’ preference for video games and girls’ for social media

#19
This article should not be flagged: it's a good-faith article written by journalist that cites its sources (which include a number of peer-reviewed studies). It is careful to use conditional language in the title ("Might explain"). Even if you don't like the conclusion, if you are an honest person who truly believes that science can help us understand the nature of humanity and use it to explain our current situation, you should not flag the article.
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