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Sex Differences in Emotional Processing in Language

Received: 11 October 2021    Accepted: 28 October 2021    Published: 5 November 2021
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Abstract

Many studies report sex differences in language processing, but there is still no consensus about differences between men and women in language processing. However, the sex differences in emotional processing are more evident and consistent. In this paper, some studies on sex differences in specific emotional area: emotional processing in language, empathy and pragmatic aspect of language, and humor processing are reviewed. These results demonstrate that women engage more emotion-related brain areas than men and the results are in consistent with sex-related cognitive style strategy hypothesis, that is, men and women favor different cognitive strategies during emotional processing. Based on the findings, sex-related cognitive strategies hypothesis and extreme male brain hypothesis are discussed. Men and women favor different cognitive strategies during emotional processing, and women show more sensitivity to emotion processing in language. Although biology may play a role to affect sex differences, the most important factor might be the different cognitive strategies employed by men and women influenced by sex hormones. The favor of different cognitive styles encourages women to have stronger drive to empathize and play the key role in sex-related differences in emotional processing in language, empathy and pragmatic reasoning, and humor processing. It is concluded that women are more efficient than men in emotional processing.

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 9, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijll.20210906.11
Page(s) 275-278
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sex Differences, Emotional Processing, Empathy, Humor

References
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    Lin Zhu. (2021). Sex Differences in Emotional Processing in Language. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 9(6), 275-278. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210906.11

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    Lin Zhu. Sex Differences in Emotional Processing in Language. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2021, 9(6), 275-278. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20210906.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijll.20210906.11,
      author = {Lin Zhu},
      title = {Sex Differences in Emotional Processing in Language},
      journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
      volume = {9},
      number = {6},
      pages = {275-278},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20210906.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210906.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20210906.11},
      abstract = {Many studies report sex differences in language processing, but there is still no consensus about differences between men and women in language processing. However, the sex differences in emotional processing are more evident and consistent. In this paper, some studies on sex differences in specific emotional area: emotional processing in language, empathy and pragmatic aspect of language, and humor processing are reviewed. These results demonstrate that women engage more emotion-related brain areas than men and the results are in consistent with sex-related cognitive style strategy hypothesis, that is, men and women favor different cognitive strategies during emotional processing. Based on the findings, sex-related cognitive strategies hypothesis and extreme male brain hypothesis are discussed. Men and women favor different cognitive strategies during emotional processing, and women show more sensitivity to emotion processing in language. Although biology may play a role to affect sex differences, the most important factor might be the different cognitive strategies employed by men and women influenced by sex hormones. The favor of different cognitive styles encourages women to have stronger drive to empathize and play the key role in sex-related differences in emotional processing in language, empathy and pragmatic reasoning, and humor processing. It is concluded that women are more efficient than men in emotional processing.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Sex Differences in Emotional Processing in Language
    AU  - Lin Zhu
    Y1  - 2021/11/05
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210906.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20210906.11
    T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
    JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
    JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
    SP  - 275
    EP  - 278
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-0221
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210906.11
    AB  - Many studies report sex differences in language processing, but there is still no consensus about differences between men and women in language processing. However, the sex differences in emotional processing are more evident and consistent. In this paper, some studies on sex differences in specific emotional area: emotional processing in language, empathy and pragmatic aspect of language, and humor processing are reviewed. These results demonstrate that women engage more emotion-related brain areas than men and the results are in consistent with sex-related cognitive style strategy hypothesis, that is, men and women favor different cognitive strategies during emotional processing. Based on the findings, sex-related cognitive strategies hypothesis and extreme male brain hypothesis are discussed. Men and women favor different cognitive strategies during emotional processing, and women show more sensitivity to emotion processing in language. Although biology may play a role to affect sex differences, the most important factor might be the different cognitive strategies employed by men and women influenced by sex hormones. The favor of different cognitive styles encourages women to have stronger drive to empathize and play the key role in sex-related differences in emotional processing in language, empathy and pragmatic reasoning, and humor processing. It is concluded that women are more efficient than men in emotional processing.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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  • International College of Chinese Studies, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China

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