Bridging the gap: The effect of gender normativity on differences in empathy and emotional intelligence

Title
Bridging the gap: The effect of gender normativity on differences in empathy and emotional intelligence
Publication Date
2016
Author(s)
Clarke, Michael J
Marks, Anthony
Lykins, Amy
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2930-3964
Email: alykins@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:alykins
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Routledge
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1080/09589236.2015.1049246
UNE publication id
une:19677
Abstract
Self-report measures of empathy and emotional intelligence have frequently revealed significant gender differences, with females typically scoring higher than males on these dimensions. In this study, we investigated whether, in line with a social identity approach, manipulating the gender normativity of empathy and emotional intelligence would ameliorate typically observed differences. Male and female participants (N = 330) were randomly assigned to read one of three narratives comprising fictitious neurological research evidence which claimed that males (Condition 1) or females (Condition 2) or neither males nor females (Condition 3) scored higher on measures of empathy and emotional intelligence. Results indicated that, in Conditions 2 and 3, females scored significantly higher than males on self-reported empathy. However, when information suggested that males were superior to females (Condition 1), no significant gender differences in self-reported empathy were observed. A similar pattern was found for emotional intelligence, however the predicted interaction effect failed to reach significance. The role of social context in determining gender differences in emotional functioning is discussed with particular reference to gender differences in motivation.
Link
Citation
Journal of Gender Studies, 25(5), p. 522-539
ISSN
1465-3869
0958-9236
Start page
522
End page
539

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink