The hard science behind the "Home Depot Phenomenon" I'm about to break the universal unspoken code of the manly man, here. So listen up -- especially you ladies -- because now I'm going to attempt to shed some light on why the husbands, brothers, sons, and uncles of this great nation (or rather, of planet Earth itself) are naturally attracted by tools of all types… Don't tell me you haven't noticed the men in your life being drawn like moths to a flame toward anything with "Craftsman," "DeWalt," or "Snap-On" stamped into it? Here's at least part of the reason why: Recent research cataloged in the journal Nature Neuroscience, shows that our minds -- those of both sexes -- are very likely to be hard-wired to automatically direct our attention toward graspable objects like screwdrivers, hammers, and other hand-held tools. Apparently, these objects, by their very shape, can command as much visceral attention as images of food, flashing lights, or an attractive body. Fascinating, isn't it? But this finding begs the question: If both sexes respond in this way, why do MEN seem to be more fixated on tools, guns, fishing rods, gearshifts, and other such "grabbies" in particular? What's really at the root of the Home Depot Phenomenon? Well, I can't prove it for sure, but it's probably caused by simple socialization -- learned behavior that's based on a person's sex, in this case… You know, that age-old "nature-versus-nurture" principle today's psychologists use to classify everything they don't understand (or don't want to admit) about what makes us tick… It's the same thing that draws women to shoes, I'd wager. But none of this explains the cosmetics phenomenon. (Maybe I shouldn't get into that.) Always learning and never pretending,
William Campbell Douglass, II, M.D. P.S. In a terrible accident, Dr. Robert Atkins remains comatose after suffering a head injury when he slipped on a patch of morning ice outside his New York office last week. You may know him as the pioneer of the healthy low-carbohydrate diet that's just lately being given its due after 30 long years. But I know him as a trusted colleague whose views about health, nutrition, and longevity are so close to my own that I've often thought of him as a brother - a "kindred spirit" in pursuit of alternatives to the mainstream. Even though his situation appears bleak, I remain optimistic. After all, he's in fine health, and he's a hell of a fighter…
I'm pulling for you, Bob.
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