Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gender Differences: The Role of Nature, Nurture, Social Identity and Self-organization

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Multi-Agent-Based Simulation XV (MABS 2014)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 9002))

Abstract

This paper describes an agent-based model to investigate the origins of gender differences in social status. The agents’ basic behaviour is modelled according to Kemper’s sociological status-power theory. Differences in the socializing forces of the surrounding society are modelled using Hofstede’s dimensions of culture. Particulars of play behaviour are modelled using experimental child development studies from various cultures. The resulting model is presented and discussed. Social identity as a group of either non-gendered children, boys, or girls, seems a powerful force, multiplying the effect of biological differences. The model is actually general enough to be applicable to a wide range of social behaviours with minimal changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Aydt, H., Corsaro, W.A.: Differences in children’s construction of gender across culture an interpretive approach. Am. Behav. Sci. 46(10), 1306–1325 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cadinu, M., et al.: Why do women underperform under stereotype threat? evidence for the role of negative thinking. Psychol. Sci. 16(7), 572–578 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Campbell, D.W., Eaton, W.O.: Sex differences in the activity level of infants. Infant Child Dev. 8(1), 1–17 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cimpian, A., Mu, Y., Erickson, L.C.: Who is good at this game? linking an activity to a social category undermines children’s achievement. Psychol. Sci. 23(5), 533–541 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Crick, N.R.: The role of overt aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behavior in the prediction of children’s future social adjustment. Child Dev. 67(5), 2317–2327 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. DiPietro, J.A.: Rough and tumble play: a function of gender. Dev. Psychol. 17(1), 50 (1981)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Eliot, L.: Pink Brain, Blue Brain How Small Differences Grow into Troublesome Gaps-And What We Can Do About It, p. 420. Mariner Books, Boston (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Evaldsson, A.C.: Throwing like a girl?: situating gender differences in physicality across game contexts. Childhood 10(4), 475–497 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Haviland, J.J., Malatesta, C.Z.: The development of sex differences in nonverbal signals: fallacies, facts, and fantasies. In: Henley, N.M., Mayo, C. (eds.) Gender and Nonverbal Behavior, pp. 183–208. Springer, New York (1981)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Hemelrijk, C.K.: Simple reactions to nearby neighbors and complex social behavior in primates. In: Menzel, R.F.J. (ed.) Animal Thinking: Comparative Issues in Comparative Cognition, pp. 223–238. MIT Press, Cambridge (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hemelrijk, C.K.: The use of artificial-life models for the study of social organization. In: Thierry, B., Singh, M., Kaumanns, W. (eds.) Macaque Societies, pp. 295–313. A Model for the Study of Social Organization. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hofstede, G.J., Jonker, C.M., Verwaart, T.: Cultural differentiation of negotiating agents. Group Decis. Negot. 21(1), 79–98 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G.J., Minkov, M.: Cultures and Organizations. Software of the Mind. McGraw-Hill, New York (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hofstede, G., McCrae, R.R.: Personality and culture revisited: linking traits and dimensions of culture. Cross-Cult. Res. 38(1), 52–80 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hofstede, G.J.: Theory in social simulation: status-power theory, national culture and emergence of the glass ceiling. In: Social Coordination: Principles, Artefacts, and Theories, pp. 21–28. AISB, Exeter (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Humphreys, A.P., Smith, P.K.: Rough and tumble, friendship, and dominance in schoolchildren: evidence for continuity and change with age. Child Dev. 58, 201–212 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Jarvis, P.: Monsters, magic and Mr Psycho: a biocultural approach to rough and tumble play in the early years of primary school. Early Years 27(2), 171–188 (2007)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  18. Kang, S.K., Inzlicht, M.: Stigma building blocks how instruction and experience teach children about Rejection by outgroups. Pers. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 38(3), 357–369 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kemper, T.D.: Status, Power and Ritual Interaction: A Relational Reading of Durkheim. Goffman and Collins. Ashgate, Burlington (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lansu, T.: Implicit processes in peer relations: effects of popularity and aggression. Nijmegen University (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lansu, T.A., Cillessen, A.H., Bukowski, W.M.: Implicit and explicit peer evaluation: associations with early adolescents’ prosociality, aggression, and bullying. J. Res. Adolesc. 23, 762–771 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Malatesta, C.Z., Haviland, J.M.: Learning display rules: the socialization of emotion expression in infancy. Child Dev. 53, 991–1003 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Martínez-Lozano, V.S.M., Sánchez-Medina, J.A., Goudena, P.P.: A cross-cultural study of observed conflict between young children. J. Cross Cult. Psychol. 42(6), 895–907 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Parke, R.D., Slaby, R.G.: The development of aggression. In: Mussen, P.H. (ed.) Handbook of Child Psychology, vol. 4, pp. 547–641. Wiley, New York (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pellegrini, A.D.: Elementary-school children’s rough-and-tumble play and social competence. Dev. Psychol. 24(6), 802 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Pellegrini, A.D.: School Recess and Playground Behavior: Educational and Developmental Roles. SUNY Press, Albany (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Pellegrini, A.D., Smith, P.K.: Physical activity play: The nature and function of a neglected aspect of play. Child Dev. 69(3), 577–598 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Tajfel, H.: Social Identity and Intergroup Relations. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Thorne, B.: Gender Play. Girls and Boys in School. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Warden, D., Mackinnon, S.: Prosocial children, bullies and victims: an investigation of their sociometric status, empathy and social problem-solving strategies. Br. J. Dev. Psychol. 21(3), 367–385 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Woods, R.: Children’s Moral Lives: An Ethnographic and Psychological Approach, p. 238. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester (2013)

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to NIAS, Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences, for offering a fellowship enabling the present study. The support of the Lorentz Center in Leiden is also acknowledged. Discussions with Theodore D. Kemper have been most valuable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Gert Jan Hofstede & Jillian Student

  2. Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Frank Dignum & Loïs Vanhée

  3. INESC-ID, Lisbon, Portugal

    Rui Prada

Authors
  1. Gert Jan Hofstede
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frank Dignum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rui Prada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jillian Student
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Loïs Vanhée
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gert Jan Hofstede .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universitat de València, Burjassot-València, Spain

    Francisco Grimaldo

  2. Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Emma Norling

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Hofstede, G.J., Dignum, F., Prada, R., Student, J., Vanhée, L. (2015). Gender Differences: The Role of Nature, Nurture, Social Identity and Self-organization. In: Grimaldo, F., Norling, E. (eds) Multi-Agent-Based Simulation XV. MABS 2014. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9002. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14627-0_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14627-0_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-14626-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-14627-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation