Jonathan Haidt

And, you know, so kids are physical. And if you ban, you know, some schools I've heard, they have a no-touch policy. You can't touch another child.

And, you know, so kids are physical. And if you ban, you know, some schools I've heard, they have a no-touch policy. You can't touch another child.

That's right. So you have a son and then- Two daughters. A son and then two daughters.

That's right. So you have a son and then- Two daughters. A son and then two daughters.

Okay. So when we look across mammal species, especially across primates, the young males do a lot more rough and tumble play. They wrestle more. Yeah. That's just a, you know, it's a biological difference. It's an effect that prenatal testosterone has on the brain.

Okay. So when we look across mammal species, especially across primates, the young males do a lot more rough and tumble play. They wrestle more. Yeah. That's just a, you know, it's a biological difference. It's an effect that prenatal testosterone has on the brain.

And what we've done in our schools is in the 1980s, we freaked out about how American test scores were behind those of some other nations. There was a report, a nation at risk. Oh, we need to get rid of most of, you know, recess and art and summer vacation. Let's, you know, lengthen the school year, give them more math, more science. And this was especially bad for boys.

And what we've done in our schools is in the 1980s, we freaked out about how American test scores were behind those of some other nations. There was a report, a nation at risk. Oh, we need to get rid of most of, you know, recess and art and summer vacation. Let's, you know, lengthen the school year, give them more math, more science. And this was especially bad for boys.

And this is when boys begin to drop out. Boys don't do well just sitting and listening. They're more physical. They're more subject to ADHD, for one thing. And so schools are becoming increasingly non-receptive or hostile to boys even. And I would say having an absolute ban on any sort of pushing or physical, that would be really bad for boys.

And this is when boys begin to drop out. Boys don't do well just sitting and listening. They're more physical. They're more subject to ADHD, for one thing. And so schools are becoming increasingly non-receptive or hostile to boys even. And I would say having an absolute ban on any sort of pushing or physical, that would be really bad for boys.

That's right. So, so much of the attention is on girls. And in the book, I focused especially on the data showing that social media is particularly harmful for girls. And that's actually what got me into the book. Those were the scientific findings that were most solid. That sort of got me studying that. And I thought the story of the book was going to be especially social media is hurting girls.

That's right. So, so much of the attention is on girls. And in the book, I focused especially on the data showing that social media is particularly harmful for girls. And that's actually what got me into the book. Those were the scientific findings that were most solid. That sort of got me studying that. And I thought the story of the book was going to be especially social media is hurting girls.

And I didn't know what the story was for boys when I started the book. I thought, is it going to be video games? Is that going to be the same thing for girls? And what we learned, and this is work I did with Zach Rausch, the lead researcher on the book, we drew on a wonderful book by Richard Reeves. It's a book called Of Boys and Men. Okay.

And I didn't know what the story was for boys when I started the book. I thought, is it going to be video games? Is that going to be the same thing for girls? And what we learned, and this is work I did with Zach Rausch, the lead researcher on the book, we drew on a wonderful book by Richard Reeves. It's a book called Of Boys and Men. Okay.

And he is really leading the charge for a totally non-politicized effort to help boys. Because, of course, everything gets, in this country, everything gets culture war.

And he is really leading the charge for a totally non-politicized effort to help boys. Because, of course, everything gets, in this country, everything gets culture war.

Everything. Anyway, the point is, the story that we took from Richard in adding on a lot more about technology is that boys, of course, used to dominate. The world was made for boys and men. But as societies change, as physical strength no longer matters so much, as America shifts to a service economy, that's bad for men, good for women. So that's great that women are rising up.

Everything. Anyway, the point is, the story that we took from Richard in adding on a lot more about technology is that boys, of course, used to dominate. The world was made for boys and men. But as societies change, as physical strength no longer matters so much, as America shifts to a service economy, that's bad for men, good for women. So that's great that women are rising up.

But as schools and workplaces are becoming less hospitable to men, they're investing less of their effort. And boys are about six months to a year behind girls anyway, especially for emotional development. And so girls are outperforming boys at every level from kindergarten through PhD. Wow. There's more girls who are succeeding, more girls going on at every level. So boys are dropping out.

But as schools and workplaces are becoming less hospitable to men, they're investing less of their effort. And boys are about six months to a year behind girls anyway, especially for emotional development. And so girls are outperforming boys at every level from kindergarten through PhD. Wow. There's more girls who are succeeding, more girls going on at every level. So boys are dropping out.