Gender, Culture & Personality (T3)

Question 1

Describe Sex vs. Gender

Answer 1

Sex:
->A biological division of males and females based on chromosomes, genitals, and secondary sexual characteristics

Gender:
->identity and self expression
-> Roles and behaviors attributed to a particular sex
-> Cisgender, transgender, non-binary, gender fluid

Sex differences:
->Average differences between males and females

Question 2

What are the Origins of Gender Roles?

Answer 2

->Some gender roles are clearly cultural
* Clothing, hairstyles, jewelry

->Other gender roles appear universal
* Greater aggression in males; more caregiving in females

Question 3

Describe Sex Differences

Answer 3

->Sex differences often change as cultures change

->not static: things shift

EX. growth of women’s education and careers; increase in men’s family caregiving roles

Question 4

Compare the big five in sex differences

Answer 4

->Women higher in neuroticism and agreeableness

-> Women slightly higher in extraversion and conscientiousness

-> Women slightly lower in openness

-> Depends on the sample and measure (inconsistent/variable findings)

-> Gender differences between facets of the Big Five

Male/Female differences:
->sex attitudes and sexual behaviors
->females are sluts - virginity
->males are ‘the man’ - doesn’t matter

Question 5

Describe Leadership and sex differences

Answer 5

->Women perform slightly better as leaders in most areas

->Men rate themselves as better leaders

-> Others (peers, employees, bosses) rate women as better leaders

-> However, women still hold fewer higher status positions than men and make less money

->F: more (+) in leadership roles, judged more harshly in leadership roles

Question 6

Describe Occupations & Hobbies and sex differences

Answer 6

-> marketing and ads - very geared toward boy/girl

->Preferences for occupations and hobbies among men and women
produce a large sex difference

->Men more interested in things and women in people
* Seen in typically male and female professions
* Depends on context and feeling welcome in a certain environment (location makes a difference)

Projects/skills:
->M: technical, physical - geared towards men
->F: solitary, household, social

->acceptable for girls to engage in ‘male’ play but not the other way around

Question 7

Describe Interests and sex differences

Answer 7

->Sex difference in interests begins early
* Shaped by both biology and culture

->Larger sex difference in female interests and activities than in male’s
* Both males and females can do male things, but only females are supposed to do female things
* Toys marketed for both boys and girls are similar in color to those aimed at boys, while pink is only for girls

Question 8

Describe sex differences in Sexual Behavior & Attitudes

Answer 8

->Men are more likely to want to have sex with someone they just met

-> Men are more approving of casual sex

-> Men report stronger sex drive and a desire for greater sexual frequency

-> In a recent meta-analysis, the largest sex difference was consumption of porn

Question 9

Describe cultural differences

Answer 9

->Customs, values, and behaviors characteristic of a nation, ethnic group, class, group or time period, location, groups

-> Different cultures have different social norms

-> Rules for behavior within a society

Question 10

Describe the Biological & Cultural Interplay

Answer 10

->Children learn gender and social norms of their culture through socialization

->Cross-cultural differences
* Variations based on country or world region
** May arise from geography Terrain, climate, and other environmental characteristics, language, food, religion

Question 11

How can Cultures Shape People?

Answer 11

->Cultural differences often viewed in terms of people

->Can also be seen in cultural products:
*individual crafted items which reveal more about a person than a trait/lived experiences

->TV shows, song lyrics, books, media

->message around beliefs useful for studying culture at a broad level (next slide)

Question 12

Discuss cultural differences at a broad level (I vs C)

Answer 12

Individualism:
->Canada/USA
->self over others
->personal attributes separates self from others

Collectivism:
->India, Japan, Iran, Indig.
->value on needs of others and society first
->group affiliation/membership uniting self and others

Question 13

What’s the mutual constitution model?

Answer 13

-> Culture shapes people and people shapes culture (reciprocity)

-> Cultural changes occur based on the people in the culture: not static

Question 14

What are the Cultural Differences in
Attributions?

Answer 14

Attributions = Inferences about causality

1. Internal attribution
   ->explains behavior that is focused on the individual and their choices and personality (ex. That’s just how so and so is)
2. External attribution
   ->collectivist
   ->context is important
   ->explains behavior focused on the surrounding situation (ex. Considering others and their perspectives before we act)
   ->cooperation, collaboration, harmony

Question 15

What are Differences in Views of Self?

Answer 15

->Positive self views

->Self vs others

->Approach vs avoidant motivation

Question 16

Describe Positive self views in cultural context

Answer 16

-> Individualistic and collectivistic cultures differ in how much they encourage self-enhancement (EX. self esteem)
* Unrealistically positive views of self and personal abilities

->Westerners are more likely than East Asians to focus on their positive aspects and have higher self-esteem
* Asian cultures depend more on others’ approval

Question 17

Describe Self vs others

Answer 17

->Cross-cultural and over-time differences in self-focus may be caused by relational mobility
* How easy it is to move in and out of relationships

->In collectivistic cultures, dating and divorce are rare and family relationships are tightly enmeshed
* Focusing on oneself has few benefits but several costs
* In individualistic cultures, relationships are more fluid
* Focusing on oneself gives the confidence to form new relationships

Question 18

Describe Approach vs. Avoidance Motivation

Answer 18

->Cross-cultural differences
* Focus on attaining success versus avoiding failure

->East Asians are motivated more by
avoidance
* See losing as an opportunity

Question 19

Why does context matter?

Answer 19

->People from individualistic cultures may find personality more
useful and relevant

->People from collectivistic cultures believe that roles or duties describe people better than personality traits
* Behavior differs depending on the situation
* Personality is less consistent

Question 20

How are Canadians viewed by others?

Answer 20

->Canadians are more agreeable

Question 21

Describe childhood attachment

Answer 21

->First relationships are with parents/caregivers, which set the stage for later relationships

->Attachment
* Link between a child and
primary caregiver

->Caregiver provides security and protection, called a secure base

->infants let their caregivers know what they need - attention, care, needs met = secure attachment

Question 22

What is Attachment theory?

Answer 22

->not specific to humans - all mammals

->Explores how early experiences shape personalities and adult
relationships

-> First proposed by John Bowlby in 1969

->Children’s attachment experiences eventually become internalized
* Part of the child’s personality
EX. abused: I’m not safe/loveable. people aren’t safe = carries into all relationships in future

->With emotionally warm and reliable caregiver, children view relationships as stable and secure

-> With cold and unsupportive caregiver, children develop a negative view of relationships

Question 23

Describe attachment styles?

Answer 23

->Way an individual attaches or relates to others
* Based on relationship with parents/caregivers

->Children develop the attachment style best suited for their situations

->Problems arise when a child uses a developed style in a different environment

Question 24

What are the 4 attachment styles?

Answer 24

1. Secure
   ->when you experience consistent caregiving where the needs are being met by the caregiver
   ->Comfort, safety, open = best outcomes
2. Anxious
   ->anxious, uncertain, clingy, inconsistent, unreliable
   ->child doesn’t know how the parent is going to respond
   ->Inability to sooth child/can’t be comforted
3. Avoidant
   ->Caregiver may be a source of comfort and distress, linked with inconsistent parenting styles.
   ->Learns to avoid
   closeness and emotional intimacy
   ->Shows this later in life in deficits of emotional intimacy.
   * Caregiver is unavailable, abusive, child learns distress associated with caregivers.
4. Disorganized
   ->fear of intimacy, avoiding closeness, lack of coping
   strategies, no self regulation
   ->lack of coherent behavior
   ->Typically seen as BPD in the DSM
   ->Unable to learn how to have a secure attachment

Question 25

Describe a Strange situation (test)

Answer 25

->Used to test attachment in young children that involves separation from a parent

->Almost all babies cry or look upset when moms leave, but differ in how they react when mothers return
*Secure attachment smile and look happy when they return
*Anxious keeps crying and are difficult to comfort
*Avoidant- looks away and refuse to acknowledge mom
*Disorganized – parents return has the baby frozen
state, or rocking upon return (fight/flight)

->Where the baby is developmentally affects their attachment style
prognosis
* First decade is the most profound

-> Possible to have a secure attachment with one parent but a different attachment in another

Question 26

Describe Attachment in Adult Relationships

Answer 26

->Early attachment experiences with caregivers predict attachment later in life
*can be affected by therapy

->Avoidant people are less likely to seek physical contact

->Anxious people are more likely to be upset when separated.

Question 27

What’s the Dimensional model of attachment?

Answer 27

->Examined on 2 dimensions
1. Avoidant
2. Anxiety

->Measured on the view of self being positive or negative and view of
others also being positive or negative

->Secure – positive in self and others
->Dismissing – self = positive, others = negative
->Preoccupied – self = negative, others = positive
->Fearful – self and others negative

Question 28

People need people

Answer 28

->Social connection is a double-edged sword (Marlon Gonzalez)

-> Our nervous system is shaped by the expectation of social connection, however others can hurt us.

Question 29

Describe Attachment & The Big Five

Answer 29

->Adults high in anxious attachment have:
* High neuroticism
* Low conscientiousness

->Adults high in avoidant attachment have:
* Low extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness

->A stable, positive relationship can increase attachment security

Question 30

Describe the relationship between The Big Five & Relationship Outcomes

Answer 30

->Some partner personality traits lead to more relationship
satisfaction

->High extraversion:
* Good at forming relationships
* More satisfied in relationships
* Maintain numerous relationships
* More shallow and less involved relationships

Question 31

What are the Three Positive Forces in Relationships?

Answer 31

1. Empathy
2. Compassion
3. Self-control
   *guides behavior

Question 32

What are the four Negative Forces in a relationship?

Answer 32

->Comes from attachment wounds (insecure)

1. Psychopathy
   ->no empathy
2. narcissism
   ->Egocentrism, need for admiration
3. Machiavellianism
   ->manipulative
4. sadism
   ->Desire to hurt others

->show one triad, show parts of others

->seven signs:
*Egocentrism
* Lack of empathy
* They try to spite you
* Feeling entitled
* Manipulative tendencies
* Pleasure in causing others pain.
* Unethical

Question 33

Describe the dark triad

Answer 33

->Relationship behaviors
*Willing to exploit others
* May be “players”
** Engaging in short-term relationships even when their partners desire a
longer-term relationship

->more likely to have multiple relationships, drama filled, more likely to poach mates, disrupt and destroy other relationships