Psychology 320: Gender Psychology Lecture 35

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Psychology 320 Gender PsychologyLecture 35
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Friendship
1. Are there sex differences in friendship?
(continued)
2. How do cross-sex friendships differ from
same-sex friendships?
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By the end of todays class, you should be able
to
1. discuss sex differences in same-sex
friendship.
2. discuss the prevalence of cross-sex vs. same
sex friendships.
3. contrast self-disclosure and closeness levels
in same-sex versus cross-sex friendships.
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4. define the female-as-opener and reciprocity
hypotheses.
5. discuss the benefits of cross-sex friendships.
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Are there sex differences in friendship?
(continued)
6. Relationship conflict

• Females and males report similar sources of
  conflict in same-sex friendships (Helgeson,
  2008).

• Females experience greater conflict in their
  same- sex friendships than males. This is
  evidenced by the following research findings
  (Benenson Christakos, 2003)

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• Females are more likely than males to report
  that their closest friends did something to hurt
  them.

• Females closest friendships are of shorter
  duration than males closest friendships.

• Females have more friendships end than males.

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• Researchers (e.g., Benenson Christakos, 2003)
  have attributed the more frequent termination of
  friendships among females to the use of
  relational aggression rather than direct
  discussion and expression of anger, both of
  which are more common among males.

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How do cross-sex friendships differ from same-sex
friendships?

• Although cross-sex friendships are not
  uncommon, both males and females have fewer
  cross-sex friendships than same-sex friendships.
  

• For both sexes, the number of cross-sex
  friendships and time spent with cross-sex
  friends increases from childhood to young
  adulthood

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• Cross-sex friendships are rare in childhood.

• Among adolescents, 52 of girls and 41 of boys
  reported a cross-sex friend as one of their
  closest friends (Kuttler et al., 1999).

• Among college students, women and men report
  that 27 of their closest friends are of the
  opposite sex (Sheets Lugar, 2005).

• Among college students, 30 of women and 40
  of men are able to identify at least one friend
  of the opposite sex (Wright, 1989).

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Time Spent with Same-Sex and Cross-Sex Friends as
a Function of Age (Johnson, 2004)
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• In old age, however, males are more likely than
  females to have cross-sex friends due to the
  higher mortality rate of males.

• Feminine men and masculine women are most
  likely to have cross-sex friends (Reeder, 2003).
  

• A number of studies have contrasted
  self-disclosure and closeness in same-sex and
  cross-sex friendships. These studies have shown
  that

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1. Although females engage in greater
self-disclosure with same-sex friends, males
engage in greater self- disclosure with cross-sex
friends. Possible explanations
Female-as-opener hypothesis reciprocity
hypothesis.
2. Although females describe their same-sex
friendships and cross-sex friendships as similar
in closeness, males describe their cross-sex
friendships as closer than their same-sex
friendships.
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Meaningfulness of Same-Sex and Cross-Sex
Friendship Interactions by Sex (Wheeler et al.,
1983)
Meaningfulness of Interactions
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• Consistent with these results, studies indicate
  that males derive several unique benefits from
  cross-sex friendships. Specifically, males
  report that they

• receive greater esteem support from cross-sex
  friends than same-sex friends (Kuttler et al.,
  1999).

• derive greater emotional support from cross-sex
  friends than same-sex friends (Werking, 1997).

• find cross-sex friendships to be more rewarding
  than same-sex friendships (Thomas Daubman,
  2001).

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• Studies indicate that females also derive
  unique benefits from cross-sex friendships.
  Specifically, females report that cross-sex
  friendships provide

• relief from the intensity of same-sex
  friendships females experience more conflict in
  same-sex friendships than cross-sex friendships
  (Werking, 1997).

• physical protection (Bleske-Rechek Buss,
  2001).

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• In addition, both sexes benefit from cross-sex
  friendships in that cross-sex friendships
  (Helgeson, 2008)

• enable children to learn new styles of play.

• decrease sex-typed behaviour.

• validate ones attractiveness to the other sex.

• provide youngsters with practice for
  adolescent and adult romantic relationships.

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Friendship
1. Are there sex differences in friendship?
(continued)
2. How do cross-sex friendships differ from
same-sex friendships?