This is a mildly entertaining study done in Canada, which purports to prove that beautiful women cause men to make bad decisions.

While I couldn’t agree more with their premise, I do doubt a little their method of investigation.

Basically, they show pictures of women of different attractiveness to male subjects, and then tell them they’ll win a prize of either a small amount of cash right away, or a larger amount at some point in the future. Supposedly, the more attractive women “cause” men to opt for the immediate cash payoff, foregoing the possible higher amount they could get if they waited.

Not a horrible way to measure this sort of thing, I suppose, but also it doesn’t take into account the fact that maybe these guys just need money right away. Maybe all these people who are volunteering for this scientific study just need a quick buck. Or maybe they don’t trust that they will get paid later on…

I mean, if you offered me like $35 right now, or told me that I could get $75 if I waited a month or two, I would say, give me the $35 and we’ll call it a deal. I need that cash right now, and that’s not affected by sexy women. Cause, then I don’t have to wait around, anticipating how and when I might get this other amount.

It’s like trying to get a rebate on something you bought. Would you rather have a lower sale price, or a higher sale price with a bigger rebate? You may never get the rebate check, really… I know I’ve had that happen to me before.

Also, I highly question their motives in linking sexuality with money. I think they are operating on some underlying assumptions or prejudices there, which they have not at all made clear. Why didn’t they ask the male participants logic questions, or something else which would measure a whole range of thinking, instead of monetary thinking, which frequently isn’t the most rational thing there is to begin with. Just look at how people make and spend their money. It can be totally fucking random.

Anyway, it’s interesting to note, that female participants in the study, when shown corresponding pictures of men didn’t exhibit the same response as men. They apparently opted to wait for the higher amount. Maybe they would have done that anyway though.

In my mind, this is all a great example of why “scientific” studies are so frequently riddled with bullshit. Because people immediately assume that something is a causal factor for something else, and as soon as they have any data to support it, they start making all kinds of crazy claims.

But, like I said, women DO make men stupid. None of us need any studies to prove that.