In a recent study* of 10,000 American citizens, researchers from Italy and the UK say that gender plays a major part in deciding people's characters, with men and women sharing just ten % of the same character characteristics. While I haven't read the original study, the feedback of the methodology where participents were able to evaluate their own character traits on the tests, might highlight some limitation re the research outcomes. If this is therefore I wonder to what particular degree the players perceptions of how they suspect they 'should ' behave, has had an influence on their answers? How people 'aspire to be ' or 'believe they will be valued if they hold definite traits ', doesn't mean that they demonstrate those endowments when alone or with others
As a Psychologist and commmunications skills training expert with over 20 years ' experience, I have seen hundreds of women and men who are endeavoring to get better results in their lives and relationships. Having worked in this 'laboratory of human experience ' for such a long time, I am still unable to answer, with any conviction, the question 'How exactly are males and females different? '
It is true that there seem to be differences; women have a larger capacity to show empathy and be more responsive to others but not all women have learnt these behaviors, nor do they demonstrate them. Men tend to be more solution-focused, with some unable to simply navigate emotional encounters with others. Equally I have seen masses of men over time who complain that their female partners don't emotionally connect with them and they need them to open up and talk of emotional things. Women tend to do business differently; they take less hazards and are way more aware of the social, ethical and environmental impacts of their decisions. They also tend to firstly form relationships in business, before launching into working with other people, while men tend to get directly to the business to hand.
Research tells us, and my experiences support it, that there are larger differences within the sexes than between them, except on issues of physical strength. In conducting research for my new book I interviewed over 20 chief executives and senior board members, confirming that variations in people does not tend to be a consequence of gender. Values, sentiments, the capacity to take responsibility, to show empathy and the need to have an effect on the world beyond one's own private career or family, seem to operate similarly across the male/female divide.
So the 'Jury is still out ' as regards whether the study attests that men and women are totally different, or that, when asked by therapists in white coats, they answer how they think they 'should answer ' or how they might love to be understood by others.
As a Psychologist and commmunications skills training expert with over 20 years ' experience, I have seen hundreds of women and men who are endeavoring to get better results in their lives and relationships. Having worked in this 'laboratory of human experience ' for such a long time, I am still unable to answer, with any conviction, the question 'How exactly are males and females different? '
It is true that there seem to be differences; women have a larger capacity to show empathy and be more responsive to others but not all women have learnt these behaviors, nor do they demonstrate them. Men tend to be more solution-focused, with some unable to simply navigate emotional encounters with others. Equally I have seen masses of men over time who complain that their female partners don't emotionally connect with them and they need them to open up and talk of emotional things. Women tend to do business differently; they take less hazards and are way more aware of the social, ethical and environmental impacts of their decisions. They also tend to firstly form relationships in business, before launching into working with other people, while men tend to get directly to the business to hand.
Research tells us, and my experiences support it, that there are larger differences within the sexes than between them, except on issues of physical strength. In conducting research for my new book I interviewed over 20 chief executives and senior board members, confirming that variations in people does not tend to be a consequence of gender. Values, sentiments, the capacity to take responsibility, to show empathy and the need to have an effect on the world beyond one's own private career or family, seem to operate similarly across the male/female divide.
So the 'Jury is still out ' as regards whether the study attests that men and women are totally different, or that, when asked by therapists in white coats, they answer how they think they 'should answer ' or how they might love to be understood by others.
About the Author:
Clare Mann is a Psychologist, Bestselling Author of
numerous books and Existential Psychotherapist with extensive
international experience facilitating individuals and organisations to
create extraordinary results through communications seminars. Her latest book Communicate รข€" How to Say What Needs to be Said, When it Needs to be Said and In The WAY it Needs to be Said is available for FREE from http://communicate31.com
numerous books and Existential Psychotherapist with extensive
international experience facilitating individuals and organisations to
create extraordinary results through communications seminars. Her latest book Communicate รข€" How to Say What Needs to be Said, When it Needs to be Said and In The WAY it Needs to be Said is available for FREE from http://communicate31.com
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