#868 - Mads Larsen - The Hidden Truth About Our Collapsing Birth Rates
Modern Wisdom
Deep Dive
Why is Mads Larsen facing outrage for discussing Norway's declining birth rates?
Mads Larsen's discussion of Norway's declining birth rates has faced outrage because people perceive his focus on involuntary single women as misogynistic and do not want to connect it to declining fertility. They fear that addressing the issue could empower political forces on the right and threaten women's reproductive rights.
What are the key reasons behind the decline in birth rates globally?
The decline in birth rates globally is driven by several factors, including the empowerment of women, changes in mating psychology, and the implementation of individual partner choice for the first time in human history. These changes have led to a stratification among men, where higher-value men receive more mating opportunities, while lower-value men are excluded, contributing to the difficulty in forming long-term relationships and having children.
How does the current mating ideology in Western societies contribute to low fertility rates?
The current mating ideology in Western societies, known as confluent love, emphasizes convenience, reward, and individualistic self-realization. This ideology allows for serial pair bonding and opportunistic short-term relationships, which reduces the societal pressure to pair bond and have children. Additionally, the availability of effective contraceptives has detached copulation from reproduction, further reducing the drive to have children.
What are the potential consequences of a declining population on societies and the environment?
A declining population can lead to the shut down of schools, lack of workforce to fill existing jobs, and an aging population. This can result in societal disintegration, increased competition over a shrinking pie, and reduced cooperation. Additionally, a declining population could hinder efforts to address the climate crisis, as societies may struggle to allocate resources towards technological advancements and environmental initiatives.
Why do some researchers avoid portraying low fertility rates as a serious issue?
Some researchers avoid portraying low fertility rates as a serious issue because they fear being labeled as alarmists, which could affect their careers and funding. They also worry that discussing the severity of the issue could empower political forces that might threaten women's reproductive rights. Additionally, there is a belief that portraying the issue negatively could lead to societal regression, such as the return of patriarchal norms.
What are the main areas where women say men are lacking in terms of attractiveness?
Women often cite specific areas where they feel men are lacking, such as not being interested in hunting and fishing, not providing the right emotional support, bragging about themselves, and not being attentive enough. These criticisms reflect the experiences women have had with men in the current dating environment.
How does the socioeconomic empowerment of women impact birth rates?
The socioeconomic empowerment of women has led to women no longer needing men for financial support or social status, reducing the innate biological attraction that once motivated sufficient reproduction. This empowerment, combined with the implementation of a promiscuous mating regime, has resulted in women becoming more selective, excluding lower-value men from their potential pool of partners and contributing to declining birth rates.
What role does the Scandinavian welfare state play in the current fertility crisis?
The Scandinavian welfare state, which transfers resources from men to women, has created a society where women no longer need men for financial support. This has made men relatively less attractive to women, contributing to the difficulty in forming long-term relationships and having children. The welfare state's emphasis on female equality has created a paradox where societal success in empowering women has led to a fertility crisis.
What are the potential interventions to address the declining birth rates?
Potential interventions to address declining birth rates include experimenting with new dating and mating arenas, increasing knowledge about mating psychology, and changing societal approaches to dating and mating. It is also important to recognize that any interventions should not jeopardize women's freedoms and should build on cultural legacies to find solutions that are acceptable and feasible within each society.
Why is there a lack of research on the ultimate function of mating, which is reproduction?
There is a lack of research on the ultimate function of mating, which is reproduction, because it has been under-researched within evolutionary psychology. While there has been extensive research on dating, relationships, parental investment, partner preferences, and sex, the ultimate goal of reproduction has not received as much attention. This gap in research is now becoming existentially important as declining birth rates pose a significant threat to societies.
- Mads Larsen faced backlash for discussing Norway's declining birth rates.
- The concept of involuntarily single women is linked to the fertility crisis.
- The dating market plays a significant role in women's ability to have children when they want.
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