Introduction
In an era of struggle for sex equality, self-definition of gender identity, and changes in the understanding of concepts related to gender and sex, it is essential to examine the emotions of representatives of different genders. It is crucial to study emotions because there is a high level of stress and psychological tension in society. Still, harmonious life in a community is always important for an individual. The concept of gender assumes that a person’s gender is conditioned by social interaction features and related to social notions of “masculinity” and “femininity” (Lang, 2018). It is significant to establish information about gender distinctions in the emotional sphere.
The Emotional Brain
Men and women differ in particular in the way their brains operate; there are morphological variations associated with these morphological distinctions. Nuclear magnetic resonance enables one to estimate the size of individual brain parts. From the point of view of the size of separate components of the brain, it appeared that women have larger brain structures, such as frontal areas and limbic systems than men. The limbic system is the one associated with emotions. The frontal limbs, in turn, are responsible for regulating all human mental activity (Lang, 2018). They act like such a tool, which allows them to form behavior programs to control their course. Men have more of a dark area in the brain, which is responsible for the environment. Women are significantly more aware of their emotions and express them more openly, which enables females to communicate more effectively with the individuals around them and retain the necessary connections and contacts.
There are variations in such an integral index as brain weight. From birth to full maturity, the brain weight of females is less than that of males (Lang, 2018, p. 105). That is, a woman’s brain is smaller in volume than a man’s brain, and therefore the mass of the brain is located in a lower volume. However, there is another variation, the reduced brain mass means that the neurons that are located in the brain are closer to each other, then the signal from one neuron to the additional proceeds faster. For example, thinking processes and other activities can occur more quickly in women than in males (Lang, 2018). Those areas of the brain that have a large area allow more neurons to be placed in those areas of the brain. Consequently, more connections are formed in these areas of the brain. The connections that form are responsible for the individual experiences gained during a person’s development.
Females feel pain more strongly than males and are also more sensitive to contact. The mechanisms of pain perception by the brain differ depending on sex hormones. The processing of pain signals is performed differently in the female brain, according to tomographic studies (Lang, 2018). Some types of chronic symptoms of pain, such as irritable bowel syndrome or fibromyalgia, are known to occur more frequently in women. A more emotional response to pain may result in women simply reporting these pain syndromes more often than men (Lang, 2018). Females are also more sensitive but not emotional; they have well-developed hearing, which is why the timbre of voice and music is essential.
Functions of Emotion
Emotional intelligence, as opposed to cognitive intelligence, is influenced more by external factors than underlying genetics. Moreover, the emotional component of the upbringing of males and females is distinct. The term emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize and understand feelings, emotions, desires, and motivations, both their own and other people, and the ability to manage emotion (Niedenthal & Ric, 2017). According to research, the level of emotional intelligence varies between females and males. Consequently, women tend to have a higher level of emotional intelligence.
This is because girls are advised to play games where they need to build cooperation and dialogues. Young girls are taught to appreciate and develop the ability to understand the other person, their pains, and their joys, which fulfills the requirement for the status of mother and wife. Male gender socialization honors the cult of toxic masculinity and encourages only determination, pressure, and the ability to defend oneself. Most men without special training are less successful in identifying other people’s emotions; this leads to miscommunication in relationships (De Boise & Hearn, 2017). This is not to indicate that men are not capable of experiencing the same wide range of inner feelings. If prohibited from expressing any negative emotion, it then goes to a deeper level and is harmful.
It is significant to mention that positive emotions expand the range of thinking activities available to people. First, they expand attention and thinking, meaning that people have more positive thoughts and are more diverse. Women usually experience positive emotions, such as joy or interest, so they are more likely to act creatively. At the same time, it is challenging to share positive and negative emotions simultaneously (De Boise & Hearn, 2017). Therefore, intentionally experiencing positive emotions when negative emotions predominate can help reverse the lingering effects of the latter.
Moderate contentment and joy can eliminate the stress experienced on a physiological level. Hence, this function is inherent in men who balance positive and negative emotions, which is why they suffer less from stress. However, Fredrickson studied the effects of positive thoughts on the brain during a short experiment. Thus, it was found that feeling positive emotions, such as joy, pleasure, and love, helps one pay attention to more opportunities in life. These findings were among the first to truly prove that positive experiences increase one’s sense of self and discover new ways of thinking (De Boise & Hearn, 2017). In this way, men and more women need to develop positive emotions to gain control of their own lives.
Expression of Emotion
There is an opinion that women are significantly more emotional than men; males tend to restrain their emotions, while women, on the contrary, display them. Women react sharper to encouragement and punishment and respond more painfully to conflicts and problems at work and home. Observations of psychologists suggest that men are more often found in the prevalence of choleric traits of temperament (Schmitt et al., 2017). It is, for them, characterized by a clear manifestation of volitional reactions, assertiveness, energy, and impatience. Men are usually characterized by greater external aggressiveness, more extraordinary perseverance, and the ability to resist brute force (Schmitt et al., 2017). The sanguine and melancholic personality corresponds more to a woman’s nature. Females are characterized by mobility, violent expression of feelings, and rapid change of moods.
There is a perception in society that women express their feelings impulsively while men do not demonstrate emotions at all; scientists have discovered the truth of this notion. According to recent studies, women smile more often than men and tend to show positive emotions openly (Schmitt et al., 2017). However, scientists believe that smiling and other manifestations of a good mood are only part of the overall picture. In addition to positive emotions, there are others, such as fear, anger, frustration, surprise, satisfaction, and pride (Schmitt et al., 2017). To identify variations in the facial expressions of men and women, scientists have developed a technique to assess them based on their reactions to different emotional stimuli.
The researchers used an automated facial motion coding system to evaluate facial expressions. It appeared that women smiled more often and more prolonged than men when watching advertisements (Schmitt et al., 2017). They also raised their eyebrows more often, although the duration of this movement was similar for both sexes. Considering that raised eyebrows most often signify fear and sadness, women openly express both positive and negative emotions; however, men are more inclined to demonstrate anger. They often wrinkle their foreheads and keep the corners of their lips lowered longer (Schmitt et al., 2017). Scientists have determined that women are more prone to show happiness and sadness, while men are more inclined to express anger. Therefore, the statement that females are more emotional than males is incorrect. Each sex is inclined to display a variety of emotions.
Emotion Regulation
The ability to manage emotions permits people to cope effectively with their emotional reactions. Emotions and their manifestation are subject to normalization and regulation in society. Gender stereotypes have a powerful effect on identifying one’s own experiences. Gender stereotypes limit the expression of feelings “not peculiar” to representatives of a particular gender (De Boise & Hearn, 2017). For men, an open declaration of emotions in several cases is worthy of ridicule and shame. Expressions of sadness, depression, fear, and social emotions such as shame and embarrassment are considered unmasculine (De Boise & Hearn, 2017). Males displaying such emotions are evaluated more negatively than females, and they are not inclined to be comforted in these cases, as is customary for females. Thus, men try to control emotions, which leads to expressions of anger and aggression; on the contrary, it is considered acceptable for men but not for the woman.
It is essential to remark that women, beginning in adolescence, show a more pronounced tendency to show depression, sadness, shame, fear, and anxiety. According to an analysis executed in the United States, people of both sexes believe that women are more willing to share their feelings than men (De Boise & Hearn, 2017). At the same time, men are the frankest in their friendships with women. The concern about gender non-conformity among men is most substantial among their sex.
Meanwhile, the ban on expressing several emotions and feelings also exists among women. Encouraging citizens to express aggression and anger and prohibiting the expression of sadness, anxiety, and vulnerability prepare them for the role of competitive earning men, striving for individual achievement, power, and status. On the contrary, aggressive behavior following stereotypical notions of gender roles is not welcomed in females. This is because, in the sphere of family relations, a more productive behavior strategy manifests positive emotions and external manifestations of aggression (De Boise & Hearn, 2017). Therefore, considering the requirements of the gender role, it is quite natural that it is more important for women than for men to be capable of managing their own emotions and understanding other people’s feelings.
A one-sided approach to the socialization of children leads to unfortunate consequences. Men are prevented from displaying the tenderness, warmth, and participation necessary in gender relations and family communication; they do not permit horror and shame to enter the realm of consciousness. Women are deprived of the opportunity to recognize and express aggression and anger adequately (De Boise & Hearn, 2017). In both cases, society demands control of specific emotions, which is accomplished in a way far from safe for health and relationships through suppression.
Conclusion
Hence, women’s and men’s brain structures affect the manifestation of emotions; females are more likely to adapt to the world around them but are affected by stress and depression. However, women are more sensitive but not emotional. This is because they have well-developed hearing; accordingly, the voice’s timbre and music are significant for them. It is essential that men and women actively use expressions of emotion. Aggression and anger dominate men’s emotions, arising from the fact that they attempt to suppress other emotions due to social stereotypes. Accordingly, the types of emotions and their manifestation vary by gender.
References
De Boise, S., & Hearn, J. (2017). Are men getting more emotional? Critical sociological perspectives on men, masculinities and emotions. The Sociological Review, 65(4), 779-796.
Lang, J. (2018). New histories of emotion. History and Theory, 57(1), 104-120.
Niedenthal, P. M., & Ric, F. (2017). Psychology of emotion (2nd Edition). Taylor & Francis.
Schmitt, D. P., Long, A. E., McPhearson, A., O’Brien, K., Remmert, B., & Shah, S. H. (2017). Personality and gender differences in global perspective. International Journal of Psychology, 52, 45-56.