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Sex and Sexual Orientation Differences in Personality in China

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Abstract

Using data from an Internet survey, we assessed masculinity-femininity (self-ascribed masculinity-femininity [Self-MF], gender-related interests, instrumentality, expressiveness) and Big Five personality traits in a Chinese sample of 201 heterosexual men, 220 homosexual men, 353 heterosexual women, and 215 homosexual women. Sex differences and sexual orientation differences were largest for gender-related interests and Self-MF. Homosexual-heterosexual differences in emotional stability were opposite for men and women, supporting the “gender shift” over the “social stress” hypothesis. Sex and sexual orientation differences in gender-related interests, Self-MF, and emotional stability observed in China were consistent with those found in other countries, suggesting possible biological influences. In contrast, group differences in other traits were more variable, suggesting possible cultural influences.

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Notes

  1. The Chinese and English versions of scales are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Key Discipline Fund of National 211 Project, China. This research wa also supported by Humanities and Social Sciences Planning Fund ([2005]217), Ministry of Education, China. The authors would like to thank Xian Xu for translating and for providing a Mandarin Chinese version of the IPIP Big Five factor marker scales.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China

    Lijun Zheng & Yong Zheng

  2. School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China

    Yong Zheng

  3. Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA

    Richard A. Lippa

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  1. Lijun Zheng
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  2. Richard A. Lippa
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  3. Yong Zheng
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Correspondence to Yong Zheng.

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Zheng, L., Lippa, R.A. & Zheng, Y. Sex and Sexual Orientation Differences in Personality in China. Arch Sex Behav 40, 533–541 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9700-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9700-6

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