Gender differences in personality traits across cultures: Robust and surprising findings

Secondary analyses of Revised NEO Personality Inventory data from 26 cultur es (N = 23,031) suggest that gender differences are small relative to indiv idual variation within genders; differences are replicated across cultures for both college-age and adult samples, and differences are broadly consist ent with gender stereotypes: Women reported themselves to be higher in Neur oticism, Agreeableness, Warmth, and Openness to Feelings, whereas men were higher in Assertiveness and Openness to Ideas. Contrary to predictions from evolutionary theory, the magnitude of gender differences varied across cul tures. Contrary to predictions from the social role model, gender differenc es were most pronounced in European and American cultures in which traditio nal sex roles are minimized. Possible explanations for this surprising find ing are discussed, including the attribution of masculine and feminine, beh aviors to roles rather than traits in traditional cultures.