The French seem to speak the universal language of love, but the universal language isn't what one should be thinking of when one thinks of the French, apparently, according to the latest hot, absolutely necessary research study. In fact, the word for it is also French: ennui.
According to Hollywood, or perhaps popular wishful thinking, French men are great lovers, but aren't to be outdone by French women. Unfortunately, if the latest study is to believed, the majority are as not-tonight-dear as any other culture. Perhaps yet another illusion we have to give up: the envy that people somewhere are living the life we'd live if it weren't for late-nite TV.
Naturally, in a fully civic-minded effort, French Pharma will be advertising for ways to goose up the activity level. Another chance at maintenance meds, lifelong supplements (to blue movies, we assume).
Science on the march! Soon, the whispers will be angry rather than defensive: "What? Again??!"
no space for general comments, so I figured that I would post this here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.replicatedtypo.com/uncategorized/the-social-sensitivity-hypothesis/2209/#more-2209
I haven't read the post closely, but the "correlation" seems spurious at best. Thought it might be fodder
Lots of people seeking quick or dramatic answers and simplistic evolutionary hypotheses. Everybody loves a good story, or, that is, a good Just-So story.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is that even if true it would be almost impossible to prove in a satisfactory way, and, most importantly, correlation is not the same as causation (unless it makes a good tale).
I agree with you, Sarah, spurious at best. A number of genes that explain migration behavior have been proposed -- the risk taker gene is another one. They make a good story, but as Ken says, they're impossible to test.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that it's perfectly possible that what looks in retrospect like mass migration movements was, in real time, a series of many many short hikes over the next hill. People went in search of more berries, not a new continent.