Emotion and Gender

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Emotion and Gender

• Class 17

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VOTE!!!!
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EMPATHY AND ALTRUISM CONCEPTS
Caring, empathy
Prosocial behavior is motivated by ? Altruistic
behavior is motivated by ?
Helping for any reason
Alternatives to empathy include?
Negative state relief Stop personal
discomfort   Avoid social/self punishments
Shame, guilt   Seek social/self rewards Honor,
pride
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Why is Joey Nice? The Logic of Batsons
Empathy/Altruism Experiments
Gold-Digging True Affection
Pre B-Day Post B-Day
Nice
Nice
Nasty
Nice
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Empathy vs. Avoiding Shame The Elayne
Study   1. Subs. told study about learning and
shocks 2. Sub. is observer, confed. (Elayne)
is learner 3. Sub. sees Elayne struggle
showing distress, upset 4. Exptr. calls a break,
asks Elayne if OK, yes, but water please.
Elayne is clearly distressed. 5. During break,
Sub completes mood check-list. Purpose ID
people high/low on empathy 6. Elayne confides to
Expt. childhood trauma w shocks. 7. Expt. asks
Subs willing to switch places w Elayne? 8.
Subs. must qualify to help by performing well at
test a. For ½ Subs. easy test, most can do
well b. For ½ Subs. hard test, most cant do
well
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Social Censure vs. Empathy and Altruism
Predictions
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Rates of Volunteering to Help Distressed Elaine
as a Function of Felt Empathy and Opportunity to
Avoid Social Censure Batson et al., 1988
Note Easy test Low Justification to avoid
helping Hard test High justification
to avoid helping
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  Effort Made to Qualify to Help Elaine as a
Function of Felt Empathy and Opportunity for
Face-Saving Out   Batson, et al., 1988
Note Easy Test Low justification to avoid
trying on test Hard Test High
justification of avoid trying on test
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Solution to Selfishness vs. Altruism Debate
The Shared Self
Problem Do we ever intentionally act outside of
self-interest? Solution Reconsider what we mean
by self and other Batsons implicit
definition these are distinct entities
O
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Solution to Selfishness vs. Altruism, Contin.
What do people say when someone they love has
died? What phases do they use to express this
kind of loss?
Part of me is missing, Its as if I lost a
limb
What does this suggest about the self/other
divide?
In other words, can self/other be represented as
overlapping, rather than separate?
In this case me is not limited to my biological
self, but to a shared self.
Empathy ? Altruism my require this shared self
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GENDER AND EMOTION STEREOTYPES
In our society, there are strong commonly
understood stereotypes of gender and emotions.
For example
Better at sending/receiving non-verbal
cues? Expresses emotions more strongly? Expresses
more emotions?
Women
Women
Women
Female-specific emotions?
Love, caring, warmth
Pride, anger
Male-specific emotions?
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If Gender Differences Exist, Why?
Possible explanations include
Genetics Developmental/child-rearing Social
shaping/demands
Societal influences/social norms
A non-emotional woman Meryl Streep in "A Cry in
the Dark"
A highly emotional man Ed Muske, Thom. Eagleton
(but also Winston Churchill "That poor donkey is
going to die!!!")
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Gender and Emotion Stereotypes Across 30 Cultures
Women regarded as more emotionally
expressive Women seen as better at reading
others emotions Women seen as better at
conveying emotions
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True Gender Differences and Social Demands May be
Mutually Reinforcing
Women want to be seen as feminine, men as
masculine
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Social Costs of Defying Gender Roles
People who defy emotional gender roles are seen
as.
Men
Sissies, weak, not masculine, impotent
Hard, cold, uncaring, frigid, non feminine
Women
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Stereotypes can be self-fulfilling
Harvey tells Gertrude Youre too emotional, be
rational
This makes Gertrude feel what?
Angry, frustrated
Leading her to become what?
More emotional
Confirms it
Which has what effect on stereotype?
Gertrude tells Harvey Youre too rigid, show
your feelings
This makes Harvey feel what?
Pressured, manipulated
Leading him to become what?
More silent, withheld
Confirms it
Which has what effect on stereotype?
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Self-Reported Gender Differences in Emotional
Experience
Positive Expressivity Women
gt
Men
Negative Expressivity Women
gt
Men
Emotional Intensity Women
gtgt
Men

Expressive Confidence Women
Men

Emotional Suppression Women
Men
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Gender Differences in Self Reports for Positive
Emotions
Joy Women
gt
Men
gt
Love Women
Men
Confidence Women
lt
Men
lt
Pride Women
Men
Men
gt
Warmth Women
Well being Women
Men
gt
Empathy Women
Men
gt
Men
gt
Sympathy Women
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Gender Differences in Self Reports for Negative
Emotions
Distress Women
gt
Men
gt
Sadness Women
Men
Disgust Women
gt
Men
gt
Vulnerability Women
Men
Men
lt
Loneliness Women
Guilt Women
Men
lt
Shame Women
Men
gt
Men
lt
Contempt Women
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Behavioral Displays of Emotion
Verbalizing Emotion Conversations Marital
interactions     Facial Expressions   Judges
ratings and muscle activity Congruence to
words Smiles
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Emotions In Situations and In Relationships
Who is happier at work and who is happier at
home?   What kinds of situations lead to jealousy
in men and in women?   Who is the recipient of
emotional expression? Culture and
emotions   a. Cultural similarities b.
Individualistic vs. Collectivistic Cultures
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Why do gender differences exist?
Overview of male and female emotional styles
Men more pride, contempt, loneliness less
self- punishing emotions (shame, embarrassment)
less fear and vulnerability   Women Superior
at recognizing emotions in others (vocal,
behavioral, facial cues). More emotionally
expressive of pos and neg emotions. Express less
anger.
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Evolutionary explanation of different emotional
styles
1. Women have care-taking role 2. Men have roles
of protectors, dominance
Developmental explanation
1. Temperament differences 2. Different
responses from caregivers 3. Social shaping
4. Role of father
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Why do women smile more? Putting it all
together.

• a. Temperament
• Smiling is self-reinforcing
• smiling ? pos. affect ? smiling
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• c. Social motives smiling is a sign of
  femininity
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• d. Emotional IQ Women better appreciate
  emotional cues
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• e. Emotional contagion. Smiling is highly
  reciprocal

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Smiling Among Women is Overdetermined