Calming Meat

This is a bizarre study. Now I'm thinking I should hang a photo of a steak behind my desk.

From The Montreal Gazette...

Results from a recent study suggest that men become less aggressive at the sight of meat.

From an evolutionary point of view, one might expect aggression to increase at the sight of meat, due to the hunting and protective instincts it could provoke, Mc-Gill researchers hypothesized. But the actual result of less aggression might reflect a genetic disposition to feel comfort at the sight of meat, with it being associated with gatherings of family and friends, the study's authors said.

Speaking of how ancient ancestors might have adapted their responses to the sight of meat ready for consumption, Kachanoff said "It wouldn't be advantageous to be aggressive anymore because you would've already used your aggression to acquire the meat, and furthermore, you'd be surrounded by people who share . . . your DNA. One of the basic principles in evolution is to want to preserve not only your DNA, but also that of your next of kin."