Brains, Men and Women

If women had to admit to a public audience they believe men are smarter than them, they would rather be caught dead first. However, international studies has shown that the perception women have over intelligence significantly favors men. Okay, so it is not like men are in fact smarter than women, but it is nice to know the fairer sex believes the same we do. Just kidding.

University researchers in London recently analyzed results of several international studies meant to measure and compare male and female IQ’s. Even when results pointed out women and men are fairly equal, red flags were risen due to another factor. The analysis led to discover a significant distinction in how men and women perceive intelligence.

The results showed men and women alike consider the male portion of human kind smarter. And the “smart” factor goes two ways. Not only does the sample group consider men are smarter than they actually are; they also believe men are smarter than women. Grandfathers, fathers and sons are considered by all cultures and generations to have a higher intelligence level than their female counterparts.

But it seems men are great culprits at the misconception trend. The study showed the less intelligent men are often those who overestimate their intelligence the most. Men believe they are smarter than they really are. On the other hand, women constantly underestimate their capacity, and it is the brightest women who underestimate themselves the most. In sum, incompetent people are overestimating their abilities and capable ones are not undertaking the tasks they should.

An online columnist questioned an ever-lasting conundrum: are women deliberately playing dumb? May be so, but is men who believe them the dumber for not realizing this sooner. Or are they? The columnist says men unaware of women playing dumb continue to happily believe they hold the source to brain power, so no harm done there.

Eventually, what would matter the most to men is whether we have won the battle of the smartest; though I’m not sure we have. Be it true or just a faulty perception from the great majority, no man will be told otherwise when a world sample believes the stronger gender holds the smart crown. One thing is true, though. Men and women do not think alike. The brain is made out of two different kinds of tissue (white and gray matter), and each gender seems to use what suits them best.

Women, research shows, use white matter more than men do; and men use gray matter more than ladies. But by no means is using one or the other what makes a gender smarter. What this study proves is human evolution has created two different types of brains, each equally capable of intelligent behavior. What does change is the tendency men and women have to excell at different fields of study. The gray matter in human brains represents information processing centers, while the white matter network these processing centers. Pretty much a matter of what each does best.

Tweet This Post