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Showing Original Post only (View all)"Why Are Terrorists So Often Young Men?" [View all]
Why Are Terrorists So Often Young Men?by Meredith Melnick at Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/23/terrorists-men-violent-biology-boston-marathon_n_3117206.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
"SNIP................................
Overall, young men are risk takers, sensation-seekers and eager to prove their masculinity, according to Steinberg. They are the demographic most likely to die from accidental injury. They tend to have higher average car insurance premiums because actuaries know that members of this age group are more likely to drive recklessly, to have a fatal car crash and to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They are more likely to abuse drugs and to break the law.
"If you look at crime data, you find what's called the age-crime curve," said Steinberg. "It's flat until about age 10 and then it peaks at about 18. What's amazing about this is that it transcends all cultures -- it's the same in all countries. And it's very robust over historical data too. If you look at different time periods, you'll find different average levels of crime, but the same distribution."
Those in that age range are at the peak of a variety of neurochemical phenomena, said Baird. "You build muscle easiest, you are more able to stay awake at night, you're less sensitive to punishment, more focused on status and reward," he said. "That doesn't mean you'll be violent -- it also could mean you'll be the opposite: Firefighters and law enforcement are also mostly young men. It's also the thing that allows you to run toward an explosion."
Young men experience a surge of testosterone that leads to an impulse to prove oneself, Baird explained. Testosterone means youll want to increase your status and many young men seek status as the toughest, the most popular and -- if they display antisocial thinking -- the most aggressive and violent.
..............................SNIP"
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Frustrated you can't say "why are they muslim?" you can always say "why are they men?"
lumberjack_jeff
Apr 2013
#6
Men do comit more crimes of all kinds. They are more violent than women. Why can't we talk about
applegrove
Apr 2013
#7
do we not discuss crimes because we are not the perpetrators? Perhaps we should ask criminals
bettyellen
Apr 2013
#30
we don't need an explanation, we need to see the issue being taken seriously.
bettyellen
Apr 2013
#86
Exactly! This is why ONLY gun crime victims & gun owners can legitimately discuss gun regulation n/t
TygrBright
Apr 2013
#52
Putting down the toilet seat lid, definitely. We need a Constitutional amendment on that. n/t
TygrBright
Apr 2013
#60
No- are you projecting a bit with this racist shit, Jeff? Horrible thing to say.
bettyellen
Apr 2013
#25
no, I'm asking where you got the stupid idea that ALL men had a problem with violence.
bettyellen
Apr 2013
#29
Well, did you check out the post about the young Arab who was ejected from Saudi Arabia ...
11 Bravo
Apr 2013
#79
I'm not sure you caught the odd threat of sterotyping women in the post I was responding to?
bettyellen
Apr 2013
#80
FOCUS ladies! This thread. This writer, Meredith Melnick, and my comments...
WhaTHellsgoingonhere
Apr 2013
#83
I think you are the only one promoting these stupid sexist notions about "proving" things....
bettyellen
Apr 2013
#82
OK bitterellen. You can't help yourself. I'll know where to find you...
WhaTHellsgoingonhere
Apr 2013
#85
I think for similar reasons young men might make good soldiers or true believers in any cause
Douglas Carpenter
Apr 2013
#9
I'm 32, transgender, take female hormones, and still find myself very aggressive, hypervigilant,
MillennialDem
Apr 2013
#12
Have to admit, at my age my hands aren't as steady as they were once. I shouldn't be
dimbear
Apr 2013
#21
For similar reasons that most criminals, soldiers, athletes and accident victims are, I suspect.
Donald Ian Rankin
Apr 2013
#22
For the same reason, I'd gather, why the military like recruiting 18-year-olds . . .
BlueCaliDem
Apr 2013
#28
Yes and evolution made it so that more men would be born than females. Because
applegrove
Apr 2013
#64