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Empathizing-systemizing cognitive styles: Effects of sex and academic degree.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Kaganovskiy, Leon 
Baron-Cohen, Simon 

Abstract

This study tests if the drives to empathize (E) and systemize (S), measured by the Systemizing Quotient-Revised (SQ-R) and Empathy Quotient (EQ), show effects of sex and academic degree. The responses of 419 students from the Humanities and the Physical Sciences were analyzed in terms of the E-S theory predictions. Results confirm that there is an interaction between sex, degree and the drive to empathize relative to systemize. Female students in the Humanities on average had a stronger drive to empathize than to systemize in comparison to males in the Humanities. Male students in the Sciences on average had a stronger drive to systemize than to empathize in comparison to females in the Sciences. Finally, students in the sciences on average had a stronger drive to systemize more than to empathize, irrespective of their sex. The reverse is true for students in the Humanities. These results strongly replicate earlier findings.

Description

Keywords

Adult, Career Choice, Cognition, Educational Status, Empathy, Female, Humanities, Humans, Male, Natural Science Disciplines, Personality, Sex Factors, Students, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult

Journal Title

PLoS One

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1932-6203
1932-6203

Volume Title

13

Publisher