Why are psychological sex differences often larger in gender Egalitarian cultures? An evolutionary psychology approach

Abstract

Evolutionary insights from sexual selection theory, strategic pluralism theory, sexual strategies theory, life history theory, psychosocial acceleration theory, and mismatch theory have helped to explain cultural variations in the degree to which men and women psychologically differ. Biosocial theory, in contrast, has proven problematic in that national levels of sociopolitical gender equality are often positively related (not negatively related) with the size of psychological sex differences. As men and women are treated more equally across cultures, psychological sex differences are larger in terms of Big Five personality traits and the Dark Triad traits of Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and psychopathy; in terms of romantic attachment and love styles; in terms of sociopolitical attitudes and personal values; in terms of clinical depression rates and crying behavior; in terms of tested cognitive and mental abilities; even in terms of physical attributes such as height and blood pressure.