implications of the differences of males and females in the trait of extroversion

7/27/2019 implications of the differences of males and females in the trait of extroversion

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This essay will be analysing and discussing the implications of the differences, if any, of

males and females in the trait of extraversion. Extraversion is defined as having the

characteristics of being sociable, active, talkative, person-oriented, optimistic, fun-loving and

affectionate (Costa & McCrae, 1992). Understanding why males and females differ in

extraversion would be useful because in light of the personality trait readings, it would help

explain the reasons that male and females behave differently. Additionally, it would provide

explanations on why certain jobs are better suited to specific genders. It is also important

because additional light would be shed on the evolution of males and females, and how does

extraversion play a part in other areas of life. Most of the research aimed at finding gender

differences in extraversion showed that there were negligible or no differences. ( Lynn &

Martin, 1997; Martin & Kirkcaldy,1998) However, these studies were mainly correlational

studies using questionnaires. In contrast, this study is an ongoing longitudinal study involving

7000 Americans aged from 35-86 across the country. Additionally, similar research

conducted by Smitt, Realo, Voracek & Allik (2008) found that there were significant gender

differences in extraversion across 55 cultures.

One of the reasons for the undertaking of this research which was mentioned in the paragraph

above is to find out if extraversion plays a part in males and females behaving differently.

This reason is shown in a study in which the researchers found that the female extroverts

were more likely to terminate a relationship and have children with more than one man

whereas male extroverts were more likely to have extra-pair copulations. (Nettle, 2005) This

finding is in line with the fact that extroverts are more likely to have more sexual partners

than introverts. (Cervone & Pervin, 2008) It also suggests that from an evolutionary

standpoint, extroversion is a desired trait because with it, comes more partners and with more

partners, there will be more offspring whom will also have better genetic variability, all of


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which is necessary for the continuation of lineage. Another way that extraversion influences

the gender based behaviour was observed in eleven year old children. In this study, Riding &

Borg (1987) found that extraverted girls performed better at the number computation than

extraverted boys.

Another reason for this study is also because extraversion plays a part in gender evolution.

Besides the reason that extraversion relates to higher fertility and higher number of sexual

partners, extraversion causes males to be more assertive or dominant whereas, extraverted

females tended to be more gregarious.(Hyde, 2001). This assertiveness or dominance helps in

evolution because dominant or assertive males were able to take leadership more easily and

exert their influence. This statement also ties in with the fact that, evolutionarily speaking,

women want men who have power and, therefore the resources to take care of their children;

and men want to impregnate as many women as possible.(Harr, 2010) In addition, according

to Alvergne, Jokela & Lummaa (2010), Senegalese men found it easier to marry more

women, and consequently, have more children if they were more extraverted. The women in

this study were found to be more neurotic, and because neuroticism and introversion is

positively correlated (Hauner et al, 2008) it means that in Senegal, males are more

extroverted than females. This extraversion and marriage correlation only applied to males,

not females. Furthermore, Alvergne et al. (2010) also found that, universally, extraversion in

males also correlated to fertility.

The differences in extraversion levels in males and females also affect the workplace. This is

because according to Lynn & Martin (1997), women that have a higher extraversion level in

the workplace have a higher mastery level whereas, men do not. One reason for this could be


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that female extraverts show a preference for demanding, intrinsically rewarding and variable

work. (Lynn & Martin, 1997)

In addition to extraversion affecting relationships, evolution and the workplace, there is also a

relationship between gender, extraversion levels and BMI. Faith, Flint, Fairburn, Goodwin &

Allison (2001) found that females with lower extraversion and higher neuroticism levels and

males with higher extraversion and psychoticism levels show an increased BMI level.

Although the neuroticism and psychoticism would have undoubtedly played a part, the

extraversion factor would have a role in the BMI levels. This is because Faith et al (2001)

noted that the poor psychological adjustment (low extraversion and high neuroticism levels)

is one of the contributing factors of the increased BMI for females only. This statement is

further supported by Hllstrm & Noppas (1981) research in which they found that

extraversion levels and obesity to be significantly related.

Thus, with all these studies that show the implications of extraversion differences in gender,

there are two possible hypotheses for this study. The first is that there will be a gender

difference in extraversion; the second, which is the null hypothesis, would state that there is

no gender difference in extraversion

The independent samples t-tests results which were obtained from this correlational research

showed that the females significantly exhibited more extraversion (i.e.: a higher score on the

extraversion factor) in this study (M= 3.09, SD=0.71) than the males (M = 3.20, SD = 0.73).

(t(3203)= -3.94,p < .05).


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Therefore, these results show that there is a gender difference in extraversion, with the

females exhibiting higher scores in extraversion than the males. Ergo, the null hypothesis, for

that reason, can be disregarded. This study confirmed what was expected because other

studies have shown that there were gender differences in males and females even as

newborns (Lutchmaya & Baron-Cohen, 2002). This is because if newborns showed gender

differences, it was expected that there would be gender difference in the males and females

that took part in this research.

This finding related to the literature because it backed up the findings by Smitt et al. (2010)

that males and females showed different levels of extraversion. It allows for the

understanding that the difference in extraversion level could influence the way that females

and males behave with regards to romantic relationships, in the work place, and for the

evolutionary differences.

In romantic relationships, in the study by Nettle (2005), the gender differences in

extraversion would explain why females are more likely to terminate relationships and have

more children with different males. The reason is that with higher extraversion levels, it

would mean that the person would be more affectionate and optimistic. Thus, if the

relationship has a chance of failing, the female would just jump into the next one because of

optimism in hopes that the next relationship would bring about the right man. Romantic

relationships are not the only area that has implications from gender differences in

extraversion.


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Another area that has implication from gender differences in extraversion is the workplace.

Females with higher extraversion levels in the workplace prefer demanding, intrinsically

rewarding and variable work than their male counterparts (Martin & Kirkcaldy,1998). This is

reflected in the higher extraversion levels that were seen in females in this study because

people with higher extraversion levels tended to firstly, are more influenced by rewards

(Cervone & Pervin, 2008). This means that the females would want work that would reward

them, and thus, make them feel good; and secondly, to have novelty in job routines (Cervone

& Pervin, 2008). Having novelty in job routines would liven up their world, as extraverts

have low boredom threshold.

With regards to evolutionary psychology, Alvergne et al. (2010) found that the Senegalese

males higher extraversion levels contributed to more females being married to the male.One

reason is because extroversion leads to more sexual partners.(Cervone & Pervin, 2008) In

addition, this is one of the few studies done in recent years that found went against the results

of this study because it in Senegal, males were more extraverted than females. One possible

reason that can be attributed to this might be the fact that in developing countries, the males

traditionally had to go out to work whereas the females had to stay at home and nurture their

family. Therefore, the males would have the chance to develop their personality traits to a

fuller extent. Another reason is that in developing countries, the gender differences are found

to be larger and more significant due to less gender equality (Costa Jr, Terracciano &

McCrae, 2001)


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The correlation between obesity, women and low extraversion level (Faith et al, 2001;

Hllstrm & Noppa, 1981) is also another study that does not play into this study about

implications due to females higher extraversion level and males lower extraversion levels.

However, the reason for obesity in females with low extraversion could be because introverts

are less social. This is due to introverts becoming aroused more easily, with highly social

events becoming averse to them as it causes over arousal.(Cervone & Pervin, 2008)

Therefore, with less sociability, it could be possible that the females let go, so to speak. This

is the opposite for males probably because they have high psychoticism1in addition to high

extraversion. This added with high extraversion levels could mean that they have a really

high opinion of themselves and that they believe that people, in general, would like them no

matter what they look like.

The results which support the hypothesis that there are gender differences do somewhat

contradict the finding of other research in by stating that females have a significantly higher

extraversion level than males. (Lynn & Martin, 1997; Martin & Kirkcaldy,1998) However,

the differences in the research outcomes could be dismissed because this study allowed for a

wide range of age, socio-economic status, self esteem levels and other important variables.

Unlike the research sample of Lynn & Martin (1997) which consisted of a hundred university

students. This is significant because extraversion is not only determined by gender; it is also

determined by factors such as age. (Chapman, Duberstein, Sorensen & Lyness, 2008) In

addition, another reason that could explain the difference in findings might be because the

studies that found no or negligible difference in gender were done in the 1990s. Therefore,

the time difference could play a part in the difference in the findings that this study found and

the ones that Lynn & Martin, (1997); Martin & Kirkcaldy (1998) found.

1High psychoticism causes a person to be arrogant and egocentric (Cervone & Pervin, 2008).


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Although this study has answered some questions, further issues were raised. One of the

issues that the results raise is that there could be a difference between the race of the person

and the extraversion level. This is because extraversion is more favoured in certain cultures

whereas, in others, introversion is more valued. (Olsen, 2002) Another issue is that this study

is not representative of all the cultures and the people of the word. This is due to the fact that

this study only concentrates on Americans and their culture. Thus, the results that were found

in this study might not be applicable to other cultures. One possible issue also to be

questioned is if past trauma, physical or emotional, would affect extraversion levels similarly

in males and females.

The t-test results showed that the hypothesis about gender differences in the trait of

extroversion is valid. Thus, it can be implicated that this difference in extraversion causes

behavioural differences, such as females having more relationships and having more children

with different men; or that gender evolution which found that males who had higher

extraversion levels tended to have more wives. It also allows for a deeper understanding in

why males and females act the way they do due to the different levels of extraversion that

each gender exhibits.


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implications of the differences of males and females in the trait of extroversion