Personality : Sex, Gender and Personality

Finding differences of gender in the 5 factor model
- 3 facets of extraversion was examined for sex difference; gregariousness, assertiveness and activity:

- Gregariousness is defined as fond of companies and sociable. Woman is found to score higher than men. Personality study on 50 difference cultures revealed a small gender differences (McCrae et. Al., 2005b)

- Assertiveness is defined as confidence and forceful personality, shows men scored highly and have a medium difference from women. This is probable due to social status, where men tend to value dominance and power than woman do. This is reflected in a study of 127 samples in 70 countries (Schwartz & Rebel, 2005). This medium-size sex difference in assertiveness may show up in social behaviour in group context. This is reflected in a number of studies that men interrupt others in conversation more than woman in a mixed-sex group (Hoyenga & Hoyenga, 1993)

- Activity shows men scored slightly over women. This is probable due to the high assertiveness and wanting dominance and value of social status and power


Agreeableness

- 2 facts of agreeableness is examined ; Trust and tender-mindedness
- A study on 50 cultures revealed a small to medium gender difference, where woman score higher than men (McCrae et. Al. 2005; Schmitt et. al,2008)
- Women tend to me more trusting than men and have empathy and sympathy for those who are downtrodden
- Men mostly stand on the opposite end which is aggressiveness. This shows in personality test, in aggressive fantasies and in actual measures of behaviour (Hyde, 1986)
- However, after 50, aggressiveness in men and woman starts to decline


Conscientiousness

- The 50 culture study revealed negligible sex difference on level of conscientiousness (McCrae et. al, 2005 b)
- Only one facet is examined which is order, where woman score slightly higher than men
- Men and woman are essentially the same on this dimension
- Small difference in keeping home order in a marriage may result in large number of arguments


Emotional Stability

- The 50 culture study revealed the largest sex difference, where woman are moderately lower in emotional stability than men on this dimension (McCrae et. al. 2005b)
- Facets that was measured on was anxiety and impulsiveness
- Woman scored highly on the anxiety label, whereas, men scored slightly higher on impulsiveness


Openness

- Essentially no sex differences in this dimension (McCrae et. al, 2005b)
- Facet of openness examined on a label called ideas, which refers to range of thoughts, or concepts a person entertains