Why are women more neurotic than men?

In the political disagreements of our time, we often miss the forest for the trees. It's often deeper than just the left or the right; it's about understanding the human psyche. 

If you believe, for instance, that there are no innate behavioral differences between men and women, then it’s clear that every difference between the sexes is a social construct. That leads to blaming the mythical patriarchy for so much.

So, at the risk of being accused of neurosexism (yep, that’s a thing), let’s take a look at neuroticism. It’s actually a broad trait that everyone has to some degree. 

Since the 80s, psychologists have used a group of characteristics to study personality. You can remember them by the acronym OCEAN: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. 

High neuroticism? You're probably the type to see a mountain in a molehill, finding threats in your morning coffee. People with high neuroticism respond badly to stress, interpret ordinary situations as threatening, and may find small tasks overwhelming. But being neurotic has some benefits as well. 

And yes, it’s true that women, on average, consistently rate higher in neuroticism than men. It’s not even a contentious claim among psychologists … but why? 

Social Factors

In the politicized world of studying gender, to some, the only acceptable answers for differences between men and women are social influences. And certainly, society could be a factor when it comes to neuroticism. It’s more acceptable, still, for women to be emotional … both out in the world, and when they answer personality tests. 

In fact, until the last few decades, even the neuroscience community considered most sex differences in behaviors a result of cultural influences. 

Biological Factors

But too much data started pointing to biological factors. A study of rhesus monkeys showed that males preferred toys with wheels, while females liked plush toys.

The brains of males and females are just wired differently.

Parts of the brain that affect emotions, like the hippocampus and amygdala – are sized differently in men and women … and work differently, too. Those brain differences may have a lot to do with different chemicals in the blood.

Now, any man who’s lived long enough has probably mentioned to a female that perhaps her hormones were responsible for her current behavior. That never ends well.

But estrogen and progesterone have clearly been shown to influence mood and emotional well-being as their levels change in the body. In women, these fluctuations can affect moods and contribute to symptoms often associated with neuroticism.

Evolutionary Factors 

But the last “why” to consider is from an evolutionary perspective … why would neuroticism be rewarded?

Well, we’ve talked about the negative aspects of it, but there are positive aspects as well. 

Here's the kicker: evolution. Neuroticism isn't a glitch; it's an advantage, at least for women. Historically, a bit of worry meant survival.

Women with more nurturing personalities, who worried about their kids and watched them closely, kept those kids safe from saber-toothed tigers so they could become adults. That’s still, in a manner of speaking, the case today.

And women more attuned to threats were more likely to thrive and go on to bear children in the first place. Being nervous about their surroundings, as well as their social dynamics, would have been vital for survival in early human communities. 

So, when we talk about men and women, let's not shy away from the whole picture. It's not just society sketching out roles; it's biology and evolution playing the long game. 

Feel free to check out the short video below, where I dive deeper.

    — Ken