Intergroup competition triggers male generosity but leaves female giving unchanged

Evidence

Moreover, as any observer of team sports fans can see, the “cooperate to compete” instinct is particularly strong among that segment of the population that likes war: young men. Psychologist Mark Van Vugt calls this the “male warrior hypothesis.” He observes that men are more likely to support wars and to volunteer to fight in them. … In game experiments, Van Vugt and his colleagues first gave men and women money, which they could keep for themselves or contribute to their group’s common fund. If enough group members contributed to the group’s fund, individual members would get a larger return in the long run by giving to the group. But if few members contributed, individuals would lose by giving to the group. When groups of men were competing against other groups, men were more generous toward their own group. In other words, men are willing to suppress immediate selfishness if the group is under threat. Women, however, were not affected by such intergroup competition. They were generous regardless of whether or not there was conflict. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 459

Categorization

• QUESTION: Does this sex difference in parochial altruism bear on which demographic enforces and participates in costly religious ritual (e.g., male-dominated priesthoods like the Jesuits in the novel)?
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 459