DAVID GEARY, evolutionary psychologist, talks about sex differences and health.

“People talk about cultural factors creating sex differences, I think it’s the other way around, there’s pressure to disconfirm the way people are. Cultural hype tries to make the sexes more alike, this is stressful for boys and girls and men and women,” explained Geary. . . .

When it comes to researching human behavioural sex differences, . . . the hard-wired element frequently causes controversy, much to Geary’s frustration.

“The PC-types have been intimidating and very effective in suppressing dissent. Other academics don’t want the hassle of being called ‘sexist’. People are afraid to speak out! Fortunately, I’ve been blessed with a sufficient amount of social insensitivity not to worry too much.” . . .

Some gender specialists insist theories on sex differences are exaggerated and harmful to women. Professor Alice Eagly, of Northwestern University, declined to contend with Geary’s new hypothesis but commented, “Chronic inequality affects the psychology of women, just as men’s greater status and privilege affect their psychology.”

But life in the womb can’t be socially conditioned and, rhetorically, Geary queried how any amount of societal male privilege could result in making the development of unborn baby boys’ “spatial abilities or play behaviour susceptible to prenatal toxins but leave unaffected those of girls?”