An Experimental Study of the Influence of Impression Management on Self-reported Precautionary Behaviors between Genders

• In Event: Gender, Fear of Crime, and Risk Avoidance Strategies

Abstract

Although studies reported that women engaged in more protective measures than men, this may not be true. Research on fear of crime suggests that the gender difference may be due to impression management, with men having a higher tendency to present themselves as ‘machismo’ and being less willing to admit fear. The self-reported precautionary behaviors may also prone to this bias in the sense that feminine behaviors would be less likely to be reported by men. Responses may be different from what they actually do due to the desire of presenting themselves in a socially desirable way. Cognitive psychologists have suggested that cognitive busyness could attenuate the tendency to engage in impression management. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effect of impression management on self-reported precautionary behaviors between genders and utilize experimental procedures by the implementation of a cognitive load to eliminate the effect of impression management. Results found that gender differences for some precautionary behaviors, such as, be aware of what is going on around you, are disappeared when impression management is controlled for, suggesting that gender differences are due to impression management, rather than a true gender differences. Implications and future research direction are also discussed.

Authors

• Carrie Li, Michigan State University

• Christopher Melde, Michigan State University