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27 November 2007
Less Talk, More Likeable 
A new study from Green Mountain College found that couples were judged by others to be less likeable when the woman was more verbally assertive. "In couples in which the woman is more verbally assertive, and the man more submissive, the relationship tends to suffer," said Green Mountain psychologist Jennifer Sellers. "In this study we wanted to test the notion that this phenomenon emerges because gender role expectations lead people to expect men to verbally dominate women. We reasoned because men are expected to be in a position of power over women, couples in which the woman is verbally dominating the man would be rated more harshly than couples that adhere to the traditional role," she explained. In the study, published in Sex Roles, participants who observed various couples were more critical when the female partner of the couple was dominating. "They didn't like the couple. The man was seen as less competent. But when the roles were switched, having the exact same conversation, participants reported that they liked the couple, that they would be friends with that couple," said Sellers. She added that the findings were especially troubling as both men and women gave negative ratings to gender role violators equally. "It's disheartening. Gender roles often influence how we see events without our realizing it," she said. "I'm sure if you'd asked the participants they'd deny that they would judge couples about this. No one wants to think they're guilty of it, but we are." For the couples - whom research suggests are already more likely to struggle in their relationship - the outside pressure creates additional strain. "When things are going wrong, these couples may get less help from their friends or family," Sellers said. "They lack the supportiveness of the people who would normally help them." Related articles:
Style Of Conflict Can Foretell Divorce
Hitched And Healthy?
Domestic Violence Stems From Repressed Emotions
Source: Sex Roles
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