Bulverism (psychogenetic fallacy)

Biological Parallel

Male elephant seals assess rivals by size and vocalizations before fighting. A smaller male's challenge, regardless of merit, is dismissed based on the challenger's physical state rather than strategic validity. This 'diagnose first, dismiss second' pattern conserves energy—engaging with every challenge would be metabolically ruinous. Explaining why someone holds a position (their psychology) rather than whether it's true exploits this ancient shortcut: causation feels like refutation because ancestrally, most challenges from weak positions were bluffs.