Why Do Some Men Show More Hostility Toward Women?
Monday, October 21, 2024.
A recent study by Jiewen Zhang and colleagues, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, shed light on a puzzling dynamic: why do some men seem more hostile toward women?
The research explored a surprising mix of factors—self-perceived attractiveness, political beliefs, and even loneliness—that contribute to these attitudes.
The results? It turns out that whether a guy thinks he’s exceptionally attractive or sees himself as unlucky in the looks department can explain a lot about how he treats women.
But how do these dynamics work, and are they influenced by more than just self-perception and ideology? Let’s dive into the nuances of this study and the broader research on hostility towards women.
Self-Perceived Attractiveness: A Confidence Boost or a Trap?
The study focused on 473 single, heterosexual men in the UK, aged 18 to 35, who participated through Prolific, an online platform for surveys.
They assessed factors like loneliness, rejection sensitivity, gaming habits, and self-perceived attractiveness.
Men at the extremes—those who considered themselves either extremely attractive or very unattractive—displayed higher levels of hostility toward women compared to those with a more average view of their looks.
This finding aligns with research by Kavanagh et al. (2021), which explored how self-perceived social status and attractiveness influence aggression in romantic contexts.
Kavanagh’s study found that men who perceive themselves as having high social desirability may feel entitled to positive attention from women, and when this expectation is unmet, it can lead to resentment and aggressive attitudes. On the flip side, those who see themselves as low in social value may externalize their frustrations, leading to hostile behavior toward women (Kavanagh et al., 2021).
Interestingly, the link between attractiveness and narcissistic tendencies can also help explain these patterns.
As Twenge and Campbell (2019) note, folks with narcissistic traits often have inflated views of themselves, which can create tension when their self-image is not validated by others. Men with high self-perceived attractiveness may react negatively when women don’t mirror their sense of importance, turning that frustration outward.
The Political Piece: Right-Wing Authoritarianism and Hostility
Zhang and his team’s research revealed that right-wing authoritarian beliefs were one of the strongest predictors of hostility towards women.
This is not at all surprising given the nature of right-wing authoritarianism, which emphasizes adherence to traditional gender roles and strict social hierarchies (Altemeyer, 1996). Men who hold these beliefs often subscribe to a worldview where men dominate, and deviations from this norm—such as women expressing autonomy—are seen as threats to their sense of order.
This finding is echoed in a study by Christopher and Mull (2022), which found that men with strong right-wing beliefs tend to exhibit more sexist attitudes, including hostile sexism.
The research suggests that these men may see challenges to traditional gender roles as a personal affront, reacting with defensive hostility. The intertwining of these political beliefs with attitudes toward women helps explain why this group might be particularly resistant to social changes that promote gender equality.
The Role of Loneliness and Rejection Sensitivity: A Recipe for Resentment?
The study by Zhang et al. also explored loneliness and sensitivity to rejection as factors that could contribute to hostility towards women. Men who were highly sensitive to rejection—a trait that involves interpreting even minor social slights as significant—tended to show higher levels of hostility. This sensitivity can manifest in frustration and bitterness when romantic advances are rebuffed.
Research by Ayduk et al. (2020) on rejection sensitivity and aggression supports this, showing that folks who are hypersensitive to rejection are more likely to react with hostility. Their heightened fear of rejection can create a self-fulfilling cycle where they perceive rejection even when it isn’t present, leading to defensive and sometimes aggressive responses.
Similarly, loneliness, particularly among single men, has been linked to more negative attitudes toward women. A study by Sevi and Eskenazi (2023) found that loneliness can exacerbate feelings of resentment and frustration, especially when individuals feel isolated in their romantic pursuits. This isolation can translate into a broader disdain for women, whom they might perceive as the source of their social difficulties.
Gaming and Misogyny: The Influence of Online Culture
Zhang’s study also touched on the potential influence of gaming addiction on hostility towards women.
While time spent gaming wasn’t a major predictor, men with signs of gaming addiction were slightly more likely to hold misogynistic attitudes.
This finding aligns with research by Fox and Tang (2018), which explored the culture of online gaming communities and their impact on attitudes toward women. Fox and Tang found that environments where sexist behavior is normalized can reinforce negative attitudes, especially among those who spend significant time immersed in these spaces.
In contrast, simple gaming enjoyment without compulsive patterns wasn’t linked to hostility, suggesting that it’s the addiction symptoms—perhaps reflecting deeper social frustrations or escapism—that contribute to negative views toward women.
Sexual Experience: Finding Peace at the Extremes
One of the study’s more surprising findings was about sexual experience.
Men who had either very few or a lot of sexual partners were less hostile compared to those with an average number of partners.
This might seem counterintuitive at first, but it aligns with the idea that extreme experiences can lead to more self-acceptance.
For those with fewer partners, this might mean a sense of acceptance about their romantic situation, while those with more experience may feel less need to prove themselves.
According to Landolt et al. (2021), men with moderate sexual experience might be stuck in a place where they’re still trying to establish their desirability, leading to frustration if those efforts don’t yield the expected results.
This frustration can manifest as hostility, especially if they perceive that their romantic struggles are due to women’s choices.
What It All Means: The Complex Web of Attitudes
In summary, Zhang and colleagues’ study reveals that factors like self-perceived attractiveness, political ideology, loneliness, and sensitivity to rejection can significantly influence hostility toward women.
Men who see themselves at the extremes of attractiveness or cling to rigid ideologies may struggle with unmet expectations or social discomfort, leading to negative attitudes. These findings highlight the importance of understanding how deeply personal perceptions interact with broader societal norms.
However, while this study provides valuable insights, it’s based on a sample of UK men, meaning the results may differ in other cultural contexts. As societal norms and gender dynamics vary, so too might the factors influencing hostility towards women.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES
Altemeyer, B. (1996). The Authoritarian Specter. Harvard University Press.
Ayduk, O., Gyurak, A., & Rabin, J. (2020). Rejection sensitivity and aggression in intimate relationships: The role of emotional regulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 119(3), 526-537. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000220
Christopher, A. N., & Mull, M. S. (2022). Right-wing authoritarianism and sexism: Examining the connection between political ideology and attitudes towards women. Journal of Social Psychology, 162(4), 503-516. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2021.1958210
Fox, J., & Tang, W. Y. (2018). Women’s experiences with general and sexual harassment in online gaming: Understanding the role of gender, context, and community. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 23(1), 59-76. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmy002
Kavanagh, C., Loughnan, S., & Ross, M. (2021). Self-perceived social status, attractiveness, and aggression in romantic contexts. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 15(2), 175-186. https://doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000193
Landolt, M. A., Meehan, B., & Popov, D. (2021). Romantic experience, self-perception, and aggression in young adults. Journal of Adolescent Research, 36(6), 657-674. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558420938995
Sevi, B., & Eskenazi, T. (2023). Loneliness and hostility towards women: Exploring the role of social rejection in single men. Personality and Individual Differences, 204, 112-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112119
Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement. Atria Books.