Culture
A study has found that women may deliberately adopt a modest and polite manner to avoid negative reactions from other women. The research examined how women and men respond to compliments differently and what kinds of reactions they expect
A study has found that women may deliberately adopt a modest and polite manner to avoid negative reactions from other women. The research examined how women and men respond to compliments differently and what kinds of reactions they expect from others.
Open self-promotion allows people to talk about their achievements and positive qualities, but in some situations, it can have negative social consequences. For example, a person who appears overly confident may be perceived as arrogant or excessively competitive.
Researchers focused on what is known as the backlash effect. Women are often expected to display greater warmth and politeness, so openly highlighting their achievements may sometimes be viewed negatively.
To test this hypothesis, researchers conducted two experiments involving 1,343 students. Participants evaluated different responses to compliments and indicated which response they would be most likely to choose. The findings were published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science.
