Women can spend hours in front of the mirror, but men are actually more narcissistic, says a new research. It turns out gender stereotypes are all wrong and this isn’t a new trend – men’s narcissism has always been greater, according to the large study which includes 355 scholarly papers and interviews on nearly half a million participants.
Narcissism isn’t necessarily a bad thing, according to psychologists. Researchers from the University at Buffalo School of Management, who reviewed data, gathered from more than 475,000 men and women over the course of 31 years, looked at the three different aspects of narcissism – leadership and authority, grandiose and exhibitionism, and entitlement. And leadership is probably what drives men and makes them more successful than women as a whole. But the study explains that the widest gap isn’t here. The largest difference between genders is entitlement, which suggests that men are more likely than women to exploit others to achieve their goals. In addition, men also manipulate others and feel entitled to certain privileges.
The study, which was published in the March issue of American Psychological Association’s Psychological Bulletin, also finds that as a whole men score higher in narcissism across all generations and age. And while it can boost self-esteem, emotional stability and the desire to be a leader, it is also associated with a wide range of “interpersonal dysfunctions”. These include unethical behavior, aggression, and inability to maintain healthy long-term relationships. The second largest gender gap was in leadership and authority, but there was no difference in the exhibitionism and grandiose aspect. This means that men and women are equally prone to vanity and self-absorption. In other words, when it comes to prepping for a night out or just showing off, we are all equal.
So, why are men more confident, more outgoing, and even more manipulative? Why are they more determined to pursue their goals and to rule over other people? Researchers suggest this stems from gender stereotypes and universally accepted beliefs of what is appropriate and what isn’t for every gender.
Women are still expected to take care of the kids and home, while men should work and strive for better status and life. People learn about these gender roles from a young age by simple observation and they get accustomed to them. Women, for instance are often criticized for being authoritative, ultra-ambitious and aggressive – and this is what exactly a man should be.
