Putin’s Pecs and Political Roid Rage

According to a report in Miller-McCune, scientists have determined that muscles make men irritable and politically aggressive. That makes Vladimir Putin’s pecs troublesome, say the researchers: “If governmental decision-makers are like other humans, then their musculature may be playing a role, unconnected from rational evaluation, in their decisions to go to war.”

Why target Putin? The Russian leader famously likes to show off his guns on vacation. Behold:

— PS

Miller-McCune:

The results confirmed Sell’s thesis. For men — but not for women — bodily strength was positively correlated with how easily or frequently they angered. Stronger men also “felt entitled to better treatment,” he reports.

What’s more, they were more likely to score higher than weaker men on a “utility of political aggression” test, in which they reported their reaction to statements such as “Wars in general promote terrorism” and “To deter violence, a country needs a strong military.”

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