Gender Stereotypes
Are females better “empathizers” than males? Critically discuss evidence and possible explanations.
Introduction The term “empathy” has a relatively short history. Its origins lie with the philosophers Theodor Lipps and Robert Vischer, having fashioned the German word Einfühlung in the late XIXth century, which directly translates to “feeling into”. It was later translated into the English word “empathy” by the psychologist Edward Tichner (Hojat et al. 2003). A universal definition of the term empathy is still not agreed upon. However, for the purpose of this work a precise definition is required. I will, therefore, call upon Simon Baron-Cohen’s interpretation of the word, where he defines it as being “about spontaneously and naturally …show more content…
In his book The Essential Difference, Simon Baron-Cohen gives a fair amount more, all pointing to the same conclusion that women are better empathizers than men. Obviously, this statement is not saying, “every single female is better at empathizing than males”. All it is showing is that, on average, women have been proven to be more in touch with their emotions, and have been more apt in their ability to infer what people might be thinking or intending. On the other hand, Baron-Cohen also explains that men are better systemisers; that is, that they are more capable of understanding and building systems. Their abilities in mathematics and natural sciences, for example, are …show more content…
(2003). The Essential Difference: The Truth about the Male and Female Brain. Basic Books.
Baron-Cohen S, Richler J, Bisarya D, Gurunathan N, Wheelwright S. (2003). The systemizing quotient: An investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism, and normal sex differences. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. (358). 361–374.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S. (2003). The Friendship Questionnaire: An investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism, and normal sex differences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. (33). 509–517.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S. (2004). The Empathy Quotient: An investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism, and normal sex differences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. (34). 163–175.
Connellan J, Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Batki A, Ahluwalia J. (2000). Sex differences in human neonatal social perception. Infant Behavior and Development. (23).
Introduction The term “empathy” has a relatively short history. Its origins lie with the philosophers Theodor Lipps and Robert Vischer, having fashioned the German word Einfühlung in the late XIXth century, which directly translates to “feeling into”. It was later translated into the English word “empathy” by the psychologist Edward Tichner (Hojat et al. 2003). A universal definition of the term empathy is still not agreed upon. However, for the purpose of this work a precise definition is required. I will, therefore, call upon Simon Baron-Cohen’s interpretation of the word, where he defines it as being “about spontaneously and naturally …show more content…
In his book The Essential Difference, Simon Baron-Cohen gives a fair amount more, all pointing to the same conclusion that women are better empathizers than men. Obviously, this statement is not saying, “every single female is better at empathizing than males”. All it is showing is that, on average, women have been proven to be more in touch with their emotions, and have been more apt in their ability to infer what people might be thinking or intending. On the other hand, Baron-Cohen also explains that men are better systemisers; that is, that they are more capable of understanding and building systems. Their abilities in mathematics and natural sciences, for example, are …show more content…
(2003). The Essential Difference: The Truth about the Male and Female Brain. Basic Books.
Baron-Cohen S, Richler J, Bisarya D, Gurunathan N, Wheelwright S. (2003). The systemizing quotient: An investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism, and normal sex differences. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. (358). 361–374.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S. (2003). The Friendship Questionnaire: An investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism, and normal sex differences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. (33). 509–517.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S. (2004). The Empathy Quotient: An investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism, and normal sex differences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. (34). 163–175.
Connellan J, Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Batki A, Ahluwalia J. (2000). Sex differences in human neonatal social perception. Infant Behavior and Development. (23).