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Gear stick in the fly: Researchers present a study that aims to show a connection between the desire for a sports car and the genitals
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Anyone who drives a sports car is only compensating for a small penis – this is a common misconception about men.
But is it true?
It is difficult to prove this scientifically, researchers say.
Mainly because - another misconception - men rarely tell the truth when asked about the size of their sex.
To get closer to an answer, a research team from London's Global University (UCL) has come up with a trick.
The structure of the study seems at least interesting and shows that when men were told that the average penis was particularly large, they classified expensive sports cars as particularly desirable.
The researchers started the experiment with a lie.
They pretended to the 200 participants that they were investigating how well people can remember information when they are shopping at the same time.
The test persons were presented with supposed facts on a screen, after which they were shown a picture of a product.
With a click of the mouse, the men could indicate how much they wanted the product.
Among the information some of the group received was this: The average penis is 18 centimeters long, which is not true.
On average, the male genitals are smaller.
The psychologists assume that given the misinformation, men get the feeling that they are not sufficiently hung down there.
In fact, according to the psychologists, subjects from this group considered sports cars to be particularly desirable.
The effect increased with age
The other group of study participants, on the other hand, received the information that the average penis was only ten centimeters long.
That's not true either, but the false fact should make them feel confident about their genitals.
In fact, these participants rated the sports cars as less desirable.
On the other hand, if the participants were presented with other luxury products, such as an expensive watch, the effect was not apparent.
The authors of the study write that their results might not please the luxury car industry.
According to another study, the average penis size when erect is 13.12 centimetres.
"From the age of 29, the effect of penis size on the desire for a sports car has increased," write the authors, led by experimental psychologist Daniel C. Richardson.
Researchers support snappy statement by activist Greta Thunberg
The psychologists published the preliminary results of their experiment on a so-called preprint server.
So they believe their research is robust enough to stand up to peer scrutiny—and high enough quality to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
It is therefore still open whether it will come to that.
With their study, the scientists also support climate activist Greta Thunberg.
At the end of December, the Swede countered a provocation by former kickboxer Andrew Tate with reference to an alleged penis complex in men with fast cars.
At the end of December, he boasted about his sports car on Twitter.
Thunberg should give him her email address, Tate wrote.
Then he could send her the list of his car collection with the respective emissions.
"Yes, please enlighten me," Thunberg then wrote, sharing an email address that translated means something like: "KleinePenisEnergie@BesorgDirEinLeben.com."
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