GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY-CORRELATES OF EXPLANATORY STYLE

Few studies have reported gender differences in explanatory style. The present study investigated the links between explanatory style and es tablished personality variables as measured by the California Psycholo gical Inventory (CPI). Data collected from 49 male and 56 female colle ge students revealed that the stable and global dimensions of explanat ory style accounted for most of the correlations with a pessimistic ex planatory style. Correlations with a pessimistic explanatory style wer e heavily concentrated among the Class I variables of the CPI for men, whereas women's pessimistic explanatory style was linked with well-be ing and good impression. Two major scales (sociability and socializati on) showed significant sex differences with respect to their correlati ons with explanatory style for negative events. The differential patte rn of correlations suggests that explanatory style may be relevant to different personality domains for males and females. The numerous CPI correlations with explanatory style for positive events suggest that i t warrants further study. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.