Cognitive biases and emotional wisdom in the evolution of conflict betweenthe sexes

Two recent theories within evolutionary psychology have produced novel insi ghts into conflict between the sexes. According to error management theory (EMT), asymmetries over evolutionary time in the cost-benefit consequences of specific social inferences have produced predictable cognitive biases. W omen, for example, appear to underinfer commitment in response to signals o f resource display. Men often overinfer a woman's sexual desire when she me rely smiles at or casually touches them. These inferential biases, accordin g to EW, represent functional adaptations rather than markers of irrational ity in information processing. According to strategic interference theory, certain "negative emotions" function to motivate action to reduce conflict produced by impediments to preferred social strategies. Emotions such as je alousy and anger, rather than reducing rationality, may embody inherited an cestral wisdom functional in dealing with interference inflicted by other i ndividuals. These evolution-based theories have produced novel empirical di scoveries and challenge traditional theories anchored in the premise that c ognitive biases and negative emotions necessarily lead to irrationality.