[Gender] Test 3 Study Guide (3/26/26)

Gender differences in communication styles

Manifest from early childhood into adult interactions.

Boys' play styles

Typically involve large groups, competitive behavior, and physical pretend play.

Girls' play styles

Prefer smaller, quieter play settings, emphasizing cooperation and nurturing.

Same-Sex Play Preference

Emerges at age 3 for girls and 4 for boys, influenced by play styles and social reinforcement.

Gender Segregation Cycle

Leads to spending more time with same-sex peers and developing negative attitudes toward the opposite sex.

Female interaction style

Characterized by positive behaviors, solidarity, and encouraging others to speak.

Male interaction style

Task-oriented with tendencies for disagreement and antagonism.

Moderators of communication styles

Include task nature, dyad/group sex composition, and interaction context.

Sex differences in children's communication

Meta-analysis shows girls talk more than boys.

Sex differences in adults' communication

Meta-analysis indicates men generally talk more than women.

Moderators of language differences

Include race/sex of partner, conversation topic, familiarity, conversation brevity, and cultural factors.

Differences in nonverbal communication

Include behaviors like smiling, gaze, and decoding/encoding emotions, with females generally excelling.

Experience of emotions by gender

Women report a wider range of emotions, with potential biases in reporting.

Leadership emergence by gender

Men more likely to emerge as leaders due to role congruity dilemmas.

Types of leadership styles

Include transactional, laissez-faire, and transformational leadership.

Bias against women leaders

Includes descriptive and prescriptive stereotypes affecting perceptions.

Impact of female leadership on performance

Female-led groups may underperform if they do not leverage expertise.

Theories explaining gender differences

Include Status Theory and Social Role Theory, addressing communication and behavior differences.

Take Home Points

Gender differences are observed across play, communication, and leadership, moderated by various factors.

Homophobia

A fear or aversion to people who identify as LGBTQ, which can affect intimacy in male friendships.

Egalitarianism

The belief in human equality, which both genders value in friendships.

Communal

Referring to the orientation of women in friendships that emphasizes connection and nurturing.

Agentic

Referring to the orientation of men in friendships that emphasizes independence and achievement.

Self-disclosure

The act of revealing personal information to others, which is more common in female friendships.

Dyads

Two-person friendship groups, typically more common in female friendships.

Relational aggression

A type of aggression that harms others through manipulation of relationships, often associated with female friendships.

Homophily

The tendency to form friendships with individuals from the same ethnic or social group.

Cross-sex friendships (CSF)

Friendships between individuals of different sexes, becoming more common particularly among younger people.

Friends with Benefits (FWB)

Relationships involving sexual activity without the commitment typical of romantic relationships.

Outgroup homogeneity effect

The perception that individuals from a different racial or ethnic group are more similar to each other than they are within one's own group.

Emotional Inexpressiveness

A societal expectation that discourages men from expressing their emotions or engaging in self-disclosure.

Intersectionality

The overlapping of social identities, which may impact friendship dynamics and experiences across genders and sexual orientations.

Audience challenge

The concern about how a friendship is perceived by others, particularly in cross-sex friendships.

Risk behavior in friendships

Engagement in risky activities often associated with female adolescents linked to cross-sex friendships.

Empty Nest Phase

A period when adult children leave home, leading to opportunities for parents to redefine or regain friendships.

Mate Preferences

Characteristics valued by both genders in romantic partners include honesty, trustworthiness, kindness, sense of humor, and affection.

Dating Double Standard

Societal expectation that men initiate and finance dates, while women may adopt traditional roles.

Demand/Withdraw Pattern

A conflict pattern where one partner demands or nags, while the other withdraws or avoids engagement.

Eros

Romantic, passionate love.

Ludus

Game-playing love.

Storge

Friendship love.

Mania

Possessive, dependent love.

Agape

Selfless love.

Pragma

Practical love with a shopping list approach.

Evolutionary Theory

Suggests men prioritize physical attractiveness linked to fertility, while women prioritize financial resources for offspring care.

Sexual Double Standard

A societal belief that sexual activity is more acceptable for men than for women.

Cohabitation

Living together in a romantic relationship without being married, often seen as a way to test the relationship or for financial convenience.

Self-Disclosure

The act of revealing personal information about oneself to enhance intimacy in relationships.

Power Distribution

The balance of power within a relationship, where egalitarian power distribution leads to higher satisfaction.

Intimacy

A close familiarity or friendship; closeness achieved through self-disclosure and affection in romantic relationships.

Trustworthiness

The quality of being reliable and deserving of trust, highly valued in romantic partners.

Abstinence-Only Education

An educational approach that focuses solely on abstinence from sexual activity until marriage, shown to be ineffective in preventing premarital sex.

Rich Get Richer Effect

The phenomenon where individuals with successful offline romantic relationships attract more online partners.

Social Compensation

The idea that online dating can offer opportunities for those who struggle in offline romantic settings.

Positive Bias

The tendency to view one's partner in a positive light as a strategy for relationship maintenance.

Cohabitation Outcomes

The quality and stability of cohabitating relationships may be lower than those of married couples.

Conflict Resolution

Methods used to resolve disputes in relationships; effective strategies can lead to higher satisfaction.

Alternative Styles of Love

Different forms of love, such as Eros, Ludus, and Agape, defined by varying characteristics and levels of emotional involvement.