Why Intelligent Women Stay Single Longer - Jordan Peterson

Summary

The script discusses the variability of traits and their utility in different environments, using IQ as an example. It highlights the abstract thinking abilities of humans, which allow for complex planning and the simulation of actions without executing them. The script also touches on Carl Popper's idea that the capacity for abstraction evolved to prevent harmful actions, allowing 'bad ideas' to be eliminated without personal risk. It suggests that intelligence, particularly the ability to abstract, may be linked to survival and reproductive success, and that cognitive abilities have been evolving in a sort of arms race between the sexes.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The utility of a trait depends on the environment, so assuming any position on the normal distribution is preferable is not always accurate.
• 📈 An exception might be IQ, where higher IQs correlate with better performance, especially in complex societies.
• 🚫 With higher IQ, especially in women, there can be a paradoxical decrease in the probability of finding a mate due to dominance hierarchies in mating.
• 🤔 There are potential limitations to the utility of intelligence in reproduction that are not yet fully understood.
• 🔄 Two value structures are identified: one that capitalizes on social groups (extroverted) and another that maintains order (conscientious).
• 🌐 Cognitive ability allows for abstract modeling, a significant leap for humans compared to other animals.
• 👀 The human brain's pre-motor cortex allows for envisioning potential actions, a precursor to abstract thinking.
• 🧠 The evolution of the brain has led to the development of the ability to think about how to think about how to move, enabling abstract planning.
• 📚 Carl Popper's idea suggests that the capacity for abstraction evolved so that bad ideas could be weeded out without endangering the individual.
• 🧬 The development of intelligence might be linked to survival and reproductive success, as smarter individuals tend to fare better in life.
• 🔄 An evolutionary cognitive arms race between males and females might have driven the significant cortical expansion in humans over the past seven million years.

Q & A

What does the utility of a trait depend on according to the script?

The utility of a trait depends on the structure of the environment that surrounds it, which leads to variability in traits.

Why should one be careful when making assumptions about the normal distribution of traits?

One should be careful because assuming any position on the normal distribution is preferable can be misleading without considering the specific environmental context.

What is the exception mentioned in the script regarding the preference for higher positioning on the normal distribution?

The exception is IQ, where higher IQs seem to correlate with better outcomes, but this is primarily true in complex societies.

What issue arises with IQ as it increases in women according to the script?

As women's IQ increases, the probability that they will remain without a mate also increases due to mating preferences across or up dominance hierarchies.

How does the script suggest that human cognitive ability has evolved to allow for abstract planning?

Human cognitive ability has evolved from the primary motor cortex to the pre-motor cortex and then to the prefrontal cortex, enabling increasingly abstract planning.

What is the significance of the prefrontal cortex in abstract thinking according to the script?

The prefrontal cortex is significant because it allows for high-level abstractions that have effects across multiple domains and far into the future.

Who is Carl Popper and what is his contribution to the understanding of abstract thinking mentioned in the script?

Carl Popper is a philosopher of science mentioned in the script for his idea that the capacity for abstraction allows 'stupid ideas' to die instead of the individual, which is a brilliant observation on the evolution of thought.

How does the script relate the development of the capacity to abstract to survival?

The script suggests that the ability to abstract allowed for the simulation of actions and the elimination of harmful ones, thus increasing survival rates.

What is the evolutionary cognitive arms race mentioned in the script between human males and females?

The evolutionary cognitive arms race refers to the ongoing process where as men become more complex, women become more complex in understanding them, and vice versa, driving cognitive development.

What is the timeframe given in the script for the significant cortical expansion in humans?

The script mentions that humans have undergone significant cortical expansion since parting ways with our common ancestor with chimpanzees, which is roughly seven million years ago.

How does the script connect the ability to abstract with dominance hierarchy and reproductive success?

The script suggests that smarter people, who are better at abstract thinking, are more likely to stay alive and position higher in the dominance hierarchy, which is a proxy for survival and reproductive success.