From the "Figure that out all by yourself, Einstein?" File for 8/5/05

Supporting war and driving SUVs really ARE about penis size anxiety after all:

Men whose masculinity is challenged become more inclined to support war or buy an SUV, a new study finds.

Their attitudes against gays change, too.

Cornell University researcher Robb Willer used a survey to sample undergraduates. Participants were randomly assigned feedback that indicated their responses were either masculine of feminine.

The women had no discernable reaction to either type of feedback in a follow-up survey.

But the guys' reactions were "strongly affected," Willer said today.

"I found that if you made men more insecure about their masculinity, they displayed more homophobic attitudes, tended to support the Iraq war more and would be more willing to purchase an SUV over another type of vehicle," said Willer said. "There were no increases [in desire] for other types of cars."

Those who had their masculinity threatened also said they felt more ashamed, guilty, upset and hostile than those whose masculinity was confirmed, he said.

So remember, ladies: next time some guy in a Ford Excursion that doesn't have a contracting company name on the side tailgates you when you're already going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit: He's not really aggressive, he's just admitting that he's a pencil-dick.