Gender differences in personality among adolescents

Abstract

The most robust findings on the differences between the two sexes have been that men are more assertive than women and that women are more tenderminded than men (see, for example, Feingold 1994). In the present study striking reversed gender differences were found on the Cattell High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ, Cattell, Cattell and Johns 1984) completed by 1,070 secondary school pupils. In particular, the score on Factor E (dominance) was significantly higher ( p <0.001) for the girls than the boys; the score on Factor I (tendermindedness) was significantly lower ( p <0.001) for the girls than the boys. Girls also made higher scores on the second-order factor of Independence. If confirmed by further research, a gender role transition in young women could have important social consequences.