What kind of people care about their reputation? You might envision doctors, lawyers, and CEOs, but recently Researchers from the University of Oklahoma have identified a particular group of folks who just really, really care about what others think: stupid white people. Scientists have identified something called “honor culture” as incredibly prevalent in particular rural areas across the Southern and Western U.S. They define honor as being “a characteristic of societies that place special emphasis on the aggressive defense of reputation” and, according to their research, it causes people to do some pretty stupid things in the name of looking tough.

A University of Oklahoma in Norman associate professor of social psychology, the study’s co-author Ryan Brown explains, “White males living in non-metropolitan areas in the U.S. in honor states are more prone to accidental deaths. They may be living with reckless abandon – by not wearing a seat belt or a helmet, for example – as a way of demonstrating they are tough and brave.”

So, I guess there’s one benefit to living in a city, where it’s only teenagers who do stupid things, and they do them just to impress their friends. Why does this phenomenon only affect white men, I wonder? ABC Reports:

Nisbett’s research on the honor culture and its relationship to homicide and other violent episodes focused on white men, because there are additional cultural and other factors that play a role in why men of other races commit violent crime.

Ah, of course. White men from the South posture and act like morons because they’re just stupid good ‘ole boys who can’t help themselves. Men of other races have simply been brainwashed by some other kind of stupid American culture.

The primary cause of death among young people (mid-forties or younger) is accidental injury, so public health officials are taking note. “[P]erhaps interventions that shame people into safer behaviors (e.g., ‘Don’t be a sissy! Buckle up!’), or rely on strong, high-status figures as models of responsible conduct would be effective at modifying social schemas and scripts about the meaning of strength and courage,” the authors wrote.

Courage. Bravery. Honor. We think of these words as being about standing up for one’s true beliefs and doing things that might be scary, but are nonetheless the “right” thing to do. But what do they really mean? Where do they come from?

couragec.1300, from O.Fr. corage (12c., Mod.Fr. courage) “heart, innermost feelings; temper,” from V.L. *coraticum (cf. It. coraggio, Sp. coraje), from L. cor ”heart,” which remains a common metaphor for inner strength. In M.E., used broadly for “what is in one’s mind or thoughts,” hence “bravery,” but also “wrath, pride, confidence, lustiness,” or any sort of inclination. Replaced O.E. ellen, which also meant “zeal, strength.”

bravelate 15c., from M.Fr., “splendid, valiant,” from It. bravo ”brave, bold,” originally “wild, savage,” possibly from M.L. bravus ”cutthroat, villain,” from L. pravus ”crooked, depraved.”

honor (n.) c.1200, “glory, renown, fame earned,” from Anglo-Fr. honour, O.Fr. honor (Mod.Fr. honneur), from L. honorem (nom. honos, later honor) “honor, dignity, office, reputation,” of unknown origin.

Is it any wonder that, when we mix the concepts of inner strength and personal conviction with the image of some stupid savage celebrity on the front page of a newspaper, we end up with a bunch of American idiots street racing without seat belts or planking on apartment building railings?