The Professor in the Cage audiobook cover - Why Men Fight and Why We Like to Watch

The Professor in the Cage

Why Men Fight and Why We Like to Watch

Jonathan Gottschall

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Categories:
Psychology

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The Professor in the Cage
Evolution & Codification of Violence+
Ritualized Combat & MMA+
Gender, Biology & Violence+
Sports as Surrogate Warfare+
The Spectacle of Violence+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
According to the text, how has human society primarily managed its natural violent impulses over time?
  • A. By genetically evolving to have lower testosterone levels and less muscle mass.
  • B. By channeling violence into codified, ritualized pursuits with strict limitations.
  • C. By completely eliminating the concept of honor in modern culture.
  • D. By legally banning all forms of physical confrontation and competitive sports.
Question 2 of 8
What is the primary evolutionary function of 'ritualized combat' in both human and animal societies?
  • A. To permanently eliminate the weakest members of a group to ensure survival.
  • B. To practice hunting techniques necessary for capturing prey.
  • C. To establish social hierarchies and winners while minimizing the risk of serious injury.
  • D. To entertain the female members of the species during mating season.
Question 3 of 8
Based on the text, what is the evolutionary reason given for why males tend to be more competitive and physically violent than females?
  • A. Males have historically been tasked with defending the tribe from animal predators.
  • B. The male brain lacks the chemical receptors for empathy found in females.
  • C. Cultural conditioning strictly forbids women from engaging in any form of conflict.
  • D. The vast difference in male and female reproductive capacity leads to fiercer male competition for mates.
Question 4 of 8
How do women typically engage in conflict differently than men, according to the book's claims?
  • A. Women are more likely to attack indirectly, such as by targeting a rival's reputation.
  • B. Women engage in physical fights only when defending their children.
  • C. Women utilize weapons rather than hand-to-hand combat to settle disputes.
  • D. Women only engage in conflict during codified sporting events.
Question 5 of 8
What does the text suggest about the differing play styles of young boys and girls?
  • A. Boys and girls play identically until they are influenced by adult sports.
  • B. Boys tend to play cooperatively, while girls engage in early forms of ritual combat.
  • C. Boys tend to play competitively, while girls gravitate toward cooperation and establishing bonds.
  • D. Both sexes avoid competitive play until they reach puberty.
Question 6 of 8
What dual purpose did sports historically serve in relation to warfare?
  • A. They provided funding for armies and entertained the ruling class.
  • B. They determined which nation would surrender and who would write the historical records.
  • C. They distracted the civilian population while secret military operations were conducted.
  • D. They trained warriors for battle and occasionally served as a less violent surrogate to avert war.
Question 7 of 8
How does modern society's appetite for the spectacle of violence differ from that of our ancestors?
  • A. Modern humans no longer find violence entertaining in any form.
  • B. We have largely replaced the observation of real suffering with fictional violence and codified sports.
  • C. We only enjoy violence when it is presented as a fair, equal contest.
  • D. Modern audiences prefer psychological thrillers over depictions of physical brutality.
Question 8 of 8
What distinguishes Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) from many traditional Asian martial arts, according to the text?
  • A. MMA incorporates strict choreographies of movement for artistic purity.
  • B. MMA prohibits fighters from combining different fighting styles.
  • C. MMA lacks a religious component and acts purely as a 'laboratory' to test effective fighting styles.
  • D. MMA places a heavy emphasis on ancient rights and spiritual authority.

The Professor in the Cage — Full Chapter Overview

The Professor in the Cage Summary & Overview

In The Professor in the Cage (2015), professor Jonathan Gottschall enters the world of mixed martial arts to discover the sources of our fascination with violence. Through the power of modern science and by applying the weight of human history, these blinks reveal how our love of fighting is grounded in our deepest human instincts.

Who Should Listen to The Professor in the Cage?

  • Anyone interested in the origins of violence
  • People fascinated by martial arts
  • Anyone hoping to learn more about humanity’s fascination with fighting

About the Author: Jonathan Gottschall

Jonathan Gottschall studies the intersection of science and art as a distinguished fellow in the English Department at Washington & Jefferson College. He is also the author of The Storytelling Animal, which was a New York Times Editor's Choice Selection.

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