Brainsex and occupation: the role of serendipity in the genesis of an idea

Govier, Ernest

doi:10.1108/02683940310484035

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The study suggested that women exposed to high PT, represented by a relatively low 2D:4D, were more likely to be found working in such occupations, and vice versa. For some gender-dependent traits such as dichotic listening tasks, synonym generation and spatial tests, male-typical scores have been reported among women engaged in male-typical occupations and female-typical scores among women in femaletypical occupations (Govier, 2003). This also suggests that male-typical qualities are likely to be related to occupational choice among females.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Sex Differences in Digit Ratio (2d:4d) Among Military and Civil Cohorts at a Military Academy in Wrocław, Poland

Kociuba¹,

Kozieł²,

Chakraborty

2015

J. Biosoc. Sci.

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The ratio of second-to-fourth digit length (2D:4D), which is generally higher in women compared with men, is a putative marker of prenatal testosterone (PT) exposure. Lower 2D:4D is linked with greater physical ability and strength, better sporting performance and a propensity towards jobs demanding greater physical ability. The objectives of this paper were to examine the sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D in both hands 1and compare this dimorphism in the students of military and civil courses at the General Kuściuszko Military Academy of Land Forces in Wrocław. The cross-sectional study compared 59 female and 118 male students from the military courses and 53 females and 64 male students from the civil courses. Besides calculating 2D:4D (2D/4D) for each hand, height and weight were also recorded. Physical fitness and endurance were assessed using Eurofit tests. Handgrip strength was measured using a standardized isometric dynamometer. In almost all physical tests, students in the military cohort showed highly significant greater physical ability and strength (e.g. handgrip strength) when compared with the civil cohort. Male participants had a significantly lower 2D:4D than females for each hand, as well as for the average value for both hands. The sexual dimorphism was, however, a little more pronounced in the right hand than in the left. Both sex and course type were significant predictors of 2D:4D. There were significant interactions between sex and the student type. Among females, but not in males, the military cohort had a significantly lower, i.e. more 'masculine', 2D:4D for the left hand and right hand and average for both hands (t=3.290, p<0.001) than the civil cohort. This was not the case in males. However, the sex difference in 2D:4D was only significant among the civil students, and not among the military cadets. In conclusion, higher PT exposure, as represented by a lower 2D:4D, among the Polish females might be an indicator of relatively increased physical ability and motivation to choose professions that require higher strength and endurance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Sex Differences in Digit Ratio (2d:4d) Among Military and Civil Cohorts at a Military Academy in Wrocław, Poland

Kociuba¹,

Kozieł²,

Chakraborty

2015

J. Biosoc. Sci.

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“…The Jungian concept of "synchronicity", i.e. the occurrence of meaningful coincidences in time, may be relevant in the discovery of a career path (Guindon & Hanna, 2002), the genesis of an idea (Govier, 2003) or an opportunity for a new venture creation (Baker, Miner & Eesley, 2003).…”

Section: The Process Of Serendipitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Serendipity: Why Some Organizations are Luckier than Others

Cunha¹

2005

SSRN Journal

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Serendipity refers to the accidental discovery of something valuable. It is sometimes presented as an element of organizational learning but has been the object of scarce research. In this paper, I discuss the notion of serendipity in the organizational context, and elaborate a model of organizational serendipity. Four building blocks are considered: the conditions that facilitate serendipitous discovery, the search for a solution for a given problem, a process of bisociation leading to the combination of previously unrelated skills or information, and the discovery of an unexpected solution to a different problem. I also discuss what organizations can do to improve the chances of serendipity.

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“…A lower 2D:4D was found to be associated with more enterprising careers among women (Weiss et al 2007). Low 2D:4D was found in individuals engaged in male-dominated occupations and this phenomenon was particularly prominent among females, indicating that PT might have a stronger relationship with occupational choice in women (Govier 2003;Manning et al 2010). In another study, financial risk-taking preferences were positively correlated with testosterone levels among female students, but not among males (Sapienza et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Is digit ratio (2D:4D) associated with the choice for the uniformed versus a civil study course by the Polish youth?

Kociuba¹,

Chakraborty

Ignasiak

et al. 2019

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The 2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic trait determined by the relative balance of prenatal testosterone (T) and oestrogen during the intrauterine development of foetus. Males on average have relatively lower 2D:4D than women in population. Lower 2D:4D is very often linked with greater physical ability, strength, superior sporting performance and many personality traits and behaviours which are seen more among the males. Recently, lower 2D:4D were associated with military and police services among the Polish women. The objectives of this study were to examine whether 2D:4D differed between the students of a study course for future military service and a civil study course and whether sex difference in this ratio is present in both these groups. The cross sectional study included 50 boys and 42 girls enrolled in the uniformed course and other 56 boys and 50 girls of a general course in an upper-secondary School. The lengths of the second (2D) and fourth fingers (4D) of each hand were measured to have the 2D:4D ratio. Height and weight were also recorded. Overall, as well as among the civil course students, males showed significantly lower mean 2D:4D compared to the females. But there was no significant sex difference in digit ratio among the uniformed course students. Besides, the females under uniformed course showed lower 2D:4D than the females in civil course, whereas, the male uniformed students had similar or almost same 2D:4D values with the male civil course students. Increased prenatal testosterone exposure might have a role in determining the choice towards a challenging future occupation and such effect is perhaps more pronounced in women than in males.

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Brainsex and occupation: the role of serendipity in the genesis of an idea

Cited by 12 publications

References 27 publications

Sex Differences in Digit Ratio (2d:4d) Among Military and Civil Cohorts at a Military Academy in Wrocław, Poland

Sex Differences in Digit Ratio (2d:4d) Among Military and Civil Cohorts at a Military Academy in Wrocław, Poland

Serendipity: Why Some Organizations are Luckier than Others

Is digit ratio (2D:4D) associated with the choice for the uniformed versus a civil study course by the Polish youth?

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