Agreed. I have a section later in the book where I discuss four ways in which even small sex differences can have large effects.
That said, small sex differences have smaller effects than large ones, and than plenty of other variables. And if we think a difference is big, but it’s actually small, we do need to do some belief updating, even if small effects can sometimes be important.
Hi Steve. I enjoyed your work (subscriber, Substack follower, have read The Ape…) and support your endeavours to look objectively at gender differences.
In the tumultuous decades since I was born in 1960, many technologic changes have profoundly influenced our lives. However, in my opinion, the most profound impact has been due to the oral contraceptive pill. Its downstream implications have revolutionised not only demographics but education, employment, the care economy and the way in which both women and men view the world and their place in it. Very few aspects of modern life have been left untouched. Do you agree? I see you as well placed to explore the impacts of accessible oral contraceptives both incisively and objectively. Have you ever thought to riff on the topic?
Hi Richard - glad you enjoy my work, and thanks for the support!
I've thought a little about the impact of the pill, and I agree that it's had a big impact on society. I discuss it briefly in the new book, but my focus is less about its impact on the world than on how the sex difference in interest in casual sex persisted even after the pill massively reduced the chances of an accidental pregnancy for women. In other words, I reference it mainly as part of an argument for an innate contribution to that sex difference. I do touch on its effects in changing sexual behavior and sexual attitudes, though.
I'll keep it in mind as something to dig more deeply into in the future...
Years ago, driving to work, I passed three schools as the pupils went in. In summer the differences between boys and girls were striking. Boys wore solid shoes, long trousers and a shirt with sleeves down showing less than 10% of their skin.Many girls wore strap sandals, very short skirts and crop tops so showing over 50% of their skin. It struck me as the reverse of the Bird of Paradise where the males job was to be noticed while the dowdy females was to survive but the females chose their mate.
No matter how fast I spin round, I can’t see my tail 😉🦚
Great start to your book. Thank you.
Thanks, John!
My hope for this book is that it shuts down the “gender discourse” once and for all :-/
But yeah, great stuff! I actually got into evo psych via “Why Buddhism is True” :-)
Nice - Robert Wright has got a lot of people into the area!
Great stuff! Our society is poorer for not having a unified theory of human sexuality- I hold out hope that you can start to correct that!
Will do my best!
Even when sex differences are small, they can affect everyday decisions, and aggregate to large differences over time.
Small correlations do not have to imply insignificance.
Agreed. I have a section later in the book where I discuss four ways in which even small sex differences can have large effects.
That said, small sex differences have smaller effects than large ones, and than plenty of other variables. And if we think a difference is big, but it’s actually small, we do need to do some belief updating, even if small effects can sometimes be important.
Robert Wright wrote amazing popular science books. It was astonishing to me to learn he is not an actual scientist.
I really enjoy your Substack and look forward to reading your book. I hope there will be an ebook.
Glad you're enjoying my Substack!
There'll definitely be an eBook. We'll release that at the same time as the hardcopy: in June 2026.
Hi Steve. I enjoyed your work (subscriber, Substack follower, have read The Ape…) and support your endeavours to look objectively at gender differences.
In the tumultuous decades since I was born in 1960, many technologic changes have profoundly influenced our lives. However, in my opinion, the most profound impact has been due to the oral contraceptive pill. Its downstream implications have revolutionised not only demographics but education, employment, the care economy and the way in which both women and men view the world and their place in it. Very few aspects of modern life have been left untouched. Do you agree? I see you as well placed to explore the impacts of accessible oral contraceptives both incisively and objectively. Have you ever thought to riff on the topic?
Hi Richard - glad you enjoy my work, and thanks for the support!
I've thought a little about the impact of the pill, and I agree that it's had a big impact on society. I discuss it briefly in the new book, but my focus is less about its impact on the world than on how the sex difference in interest in casual sex persisted even after the pill massively reduced the chances of an accidental pregnancy for women. In other words, I reference it mainly as part of an argument for an innate contribution to that sex difference. I do touch on its effects in changing sexual behavior and sexual attitudes, though.
I'll keep it in mind as something to dig more deeply into in the future...
Years ago, driving to work, I passed three schools as the pupils went in. In summer the differences between boys and girls were striking. Boys wore solid shoes, long trousers and a shirt with sleeves down showing less than 10% of their skin.Many girls wore strap sandals, very short skirts and crop tops so showing over 50% of their skin. It struck me as the reverse of the Bird of Paradise where the males job was to be noticed while the dowdy females was to survive but the females chose their mate.