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Visceral influences and gender difference in competitiveness

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  • Fu, Jingcheng
  • Zhong, Songfa

Abstract

Building upon the much-celebrated sex-specific hypothesis regarding visceral responses, we explore the potential impact of visceral responses on the well-replicated gender difference in competitiveness. In the first experiment, we document that exposure to the piece-rate and tournament tasks leads to an arousal of sex hormones among men, while women do not experience a similar response. This arousal is positively associated with competitiveness. In the second experiment, we observe that the gender gap in competitiveness is reduced by introducing a resting period. Our results contribute to the literature on gender differences in the willingness to compete and suggest that mitigating visceral influences is beneficial for promoting gender equality.

Suggested Citation

  • Fu, Jingcheng & Zhong, Songfa, 2025. "Visceral influences and gender difference in competitiveness," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:107:y:2025:i:c:s0167487024000965
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2024.102788
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tournament; Piece rate; Competitiveness; Visceral influences; Sex hormone; Gender difference; Experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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