A recent survey sought to determine the effects of the labels “hawk” (more in favor of military action) and “dove” (more in favor of diplomatic solutions) on public opinion of military action.
Two versions of a survey about preferences for military solutions to conflicts were presented to two groups of respondents. In each case, they were asked whether the military should be used more or less frequently.
However, researchers primed one group by including the labels “hawk” and “dove” in the question.
The use of these two simple words had a big effect.
In the survey that didn’t include the words “hawk” and “dove,” 13 percent of men said they believed the military should be used more frequently.
When “hawk” and “dove” were included as a part of the question, 25 percent of men believed the military should be used more frequently.
Nearly twice as many men were more willing to go to war rather than being thought of as a dove.
When women took the same survey, the difference between the label and non-label groups was a single point.
Statistically insignificant and essentially the same.
In other words, a large segment of men in this country are empty-headed, thoughtless morons, so burdened by fragile egos that they would rather risk the lives of our service men or women rather than being labeled as a less-than-manly bird.
You know the type. These are the guys brandishing tough-guy energy and unwarranted swagger while silently battling feelings of self-loathing, underconfidence, and desperation.
Just think:
Twice as many men thought military action would be warranted when the words “haek” and “dove” were included in the question.
A lot of men in our country be a whole lot of dumb.
