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Photos: UCLA study explores why men resort to violence

Students at UCLA take part in research about why men resort to violence. The results showed that men who walked in sync tended to under-size adversaries -- marching made them feel more formidable.

Students at UCLA take part in research about why men resort to violence. The results showed that men who walked in sync tended to under-size adversaries -- marching made them feel more formidable.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Daniel Fessler, an associate professor of anthropology at UCLA, believes he’s uncovering a crude mental shortcut that may shed light on confrontations and help explain why men resort to violence.

UCLA study explores why men resort to violence

UCLA student Elizabeth Wang tries to recruit participants for research about men and violence in February. The subjects were not told the point of the study.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

UCLA study explores why men resort to violence

Associate professor of anthropology Daniel Fessler, in hat, conducts a study at UCLA. Fessler is chasing the notion that humans, particularly men, super-size or shrink a mental picture of their adversaries when figuring out whether they can win a potential conflict.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

UCLA study explores why men resort to violence

“I’d really like to know whether, when police officers use riot gear, is excessive force more likely?” says UCLA assistant professor Dan Fessler. “They’re all armored up, and all in a line together, in formation, synchronizing behavior.”  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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