Mean Girls Syndrome: Girls Being Crazy And Stabbing Each Other In The Back Is An Evolutionary Development
Well that’s a f*cking relief- science has finally proven that being a mean girl is the norm! I guess we can’t blame our girl friends for being a bunch of bitches; I mean, they just can’t help it since it’s in their biological nature.
Is this some sort of get out of jail free card? Can I send this study to the two sleep away camps I got kicked out of for isolating the weird girls? Can someone say refund?! I guess it’s just too little too late.
Totally kidding, the cattiness women display towards one another is a growing epidemic and one that needs to be tackled pronto. It’s not fun being a mean girl-- when people ask where I went to camp, it’s a really awkward conversation to have. You don’t want to earn yourself the reputation of a mean girl because it's just not a good look for anyone.
According to ABC News, “Tracy Vaillancourt, a professor of psychology at the University of Ottawa and lead author of the research analysis, maintains that gossip, back stabbing and shunning have evolved as effective ways for women to maximize the damage to their intended target while minimizing the dangers to themselves.”
So basically, talking sh*t is genetically rational? Maybe that’s what Vaillancourt believes, but Kim Wallen, a psychologist at Emory University, believes otherwise.
As ABC News stated, “Vaillancourt counters that the research is clear: Women are biologically programmed to perceive women who are younger, prettier or more desirable to potential mates as threats. To diffuse a threatening rival, women tend to employ passive aggressive behaviors. So rather than lift a finger, a woman will wound her opponent with contemptuous glances, unkind words and petty remarks.”
Okay -- so basically, women are threatened by young, hotter versions of themselves and as a result act like complete and utter bitches to eliminate the threat. Is this socially acceptable now? Is this allowing jealous woman to get away with acting like assholes? Talk sh*t, get hit? Now it’s more like talk sh*t and get excused.
Vaillancourt also went as far as to confirm what we already knew about the male species: when they are threatened, they employ violence to “defend their social turf.” Well no sh*t, tell me something I didn’t already know.
What’s the solution here? Does it all root back to self confidence? If people are comfortable and confident with who they are and what they look like, then they would virtually have no reason to engage in this type of behavior. Despite science proving/supporting these detrimental characteristics, it shouldn’t excuse them. Except in my camp case, in which I'd really like a refund. Just kidding (but seriously).
The key is to find women who aren’t mean girls, who are difficult to come by. Wouldn’t you rather surround yourself with other confident women who have no reason to put down those around them? Despite being hardwired for certain attributes, you always have a choice in the way you wish to conduct yourself, regardless of how difficult the right thing may be. If this isn’t the type of person you want to be, then change it.
The unkindness that women display takes many different forms and each needs to be tackled and rectified accordingly. You really aren’t going to get far in life if you're constantly talking sh*t. Focus on yourself and on improving your character. Stop worrying about the actions of others -- all you're doing is giving them the power.
So next time you're about to talk sh*t, think about if it’s really something you should be doing. Focus your efforts inward not outward: do you and only concern yourself with the way you are treating others.
Via ABC News, Photo via CW/Gossip Girl
