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. 2010 Dec 23;8(4):779-92.
doi: 10.1177/147470491000800418.

Sex differences in same-sex direct aggression and sociosexuality: the role of risky impulsivity

Catharine P Cross  1
Affiliations

Sex differences in same-sex direct aggression and sociosexuality: the role of risky impulsivity

Catharine P Cross. Evol Psychol. .

Abstract

Sex differences in same-sex direct aggression and sociosexuality are among the most robust in the literature. The present article evaluated the hypothesis that both can be explained by a sex difference in the willingness to take impulsive risks. Self-report data were gathered from 3,775 respondents (1,514 female) on same-sex aggression, sociosexuality, and risky impulsivity. Risky impulsivity was higher for men than for women (d = .34) and path analysis showed it to be a common cause of same-sex aggression and sociosexuality for both sexes. However, it did not completely mediate the sex differences in same-sex aggression and sociosexuality. The results suggest that same-sex aggression and sociosexual behavior share a common psychological mechanism, but that fully explaining sex differences in aggression requires a more sensitive assay of impulsive risk and a consideration of dyadic processes.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Relationships between: a) risky impulsivity, same-sex aggression and sociosexuality, and b) sex, risky impulsivity, same-sex aggression and sociosexuality
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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