Proof that boys exaggerate more than girls
Sons are taking their cue from dads
when it comes to milking their injuries to get maximum attention, says
supporting research for Sudocrem’s new TV ad.
when it comes to milking their injuries to get maximum attention, says
supporting research for Sudocrem’s new TV ad.
The research is conclusive; boys exaggerate more than girls
and take longer to recover from playground tumbles. It also showed that they take
their cue from dads. Here’s the lowdown from a study of children aged 8 years:
and take longer to recover from playground tumbles. It also showed that they take
their cue from dads. Here’s the lowdown from a study of children aged 8 years:
·
Boys report
twice as many injuries as girls. Over half said they received 2 injuries per
week compared to the same number of girls who said they were hurt in the
playground just once a week.
Boys report
twice as many injuries as girls. Over half said they received 2 injuries per
week compared to the same number of girls who said they were hurt in the
playground just once a week.
·
A quarter
describe an injury as ‘serious’
compared with just 10% of girls.
A quarter
describe an injury as ‘serious’
compared with just 10% of girls.
·
60% of girls
report that boys use their injuries to attract attention from playmates and
teachers and 40% said boys keep their plasters on for longer than necessary to
create a talking point.
60% of girls
report that boys use their injuries to attract attention from playmates and
teachers and 40% said boys keep their plasters on for longer than necessary to
create a talking point.
·
In contrast,
boys report that girls may cry more easily but recover quicker.
In contrast,
boys report that girls may cry more easily but recover quicker.
What can we take from this
It’s all about boys’
needing to create a story that will earn them respect, says Nick Lang of
Sudocrem. “Boys may hold back on the
tears but they’re much better at the little dramas, the fanfare that goes with
a football injury or running into their best mate”.
needing to create a story that will earn them respect, says Nick Lang of
Sudocrem. “Boys may hold back on the
tears but they’re much better at the little dramas, the fanfare that goes with
a football injury or running into their best mate”.
The stories that go
with the injuries vary between boys and girls. For boys, a scar takes on
mythical proportions. “Think Harry
Potter,” says Nick Lang “where
would he be without his lightening bolt? It’s something to wear with pride
whereas Hermione would have hidden it under her hair.” A view
sustained by the research which showed that 70% of girls worry that they may
get a scar compared to 80% of boys who would like one! “A scar gives you an opportunity to tell a story.” says Nick.
with the injuries vary between boys and girls. For boys, a scar takes on
mythical proportions. “Think Harry
Potter,” says Nick Lang “where
would he be without his lightening bolt? It’s something to wear with pride
whereas Hermione would have hidden it under her hair.” A view
sustained by the research which showed that 70% of girls worry that they may
get a scar compared to 80% of boys who would like one! “A scar gives you an opportunity to tell a story.” says Nick.
The psychology
And if you want to
know where boys get their tendency to exaggerate, look no further than their fathers.
50% of boys say their dads do ‘dangerous’
jobs around the house and a third reckon their fathers have a lot of scars.
know where boys get their tendency to exaggerate, look no further than their fathers.
50% of boys say their dads do ‘dangerous’
jobs around the house and a third reckon their fathers have a lot of scars.
Consultant
Psychologist Simon Moore explains, “There are two psychological reasons that might explain
these findings: social learning styles and gender conditioning. In terms of
social learning styles boys and girls learn and explore their world in
different ways. While girls network and build up social reference groups, boys
learn predominantly by competing with one another and are still influenced by
the evolutionary tendency to be the ‘alpha male’. The second factor that might
explain boys tendency to exaggerate lies in gender conditioning, the way we
learn to be male and female in our societies. Men exaggerate at work more,
during the early stages of dating, about illnesses’ and to their male friends
about things that have happened. This technique is then passed down or learned
from their fathers/grandfathers.”
Psychologist Simon Moore explains, “There are two psychological reasons that might explain
these findings: social learning styles and gender conditioning. In terms of
social learning styles boys and girls learn and explore their world in
different ways. While girls network and build up social reference groups, boys
learn predominantly by competing with one another and are still influenced by
the evolutionary tendency to be the ‘alpha male’. The second factor that might
explain boys tendency to exaggerate lies in gender conditioning, the way we
learn to be male and female in our societies. Men exaggerate at work more,
during the early stages of dating, about illnesses’ and to their male friends
about things that have happened. This technique is then passed down or learned
from their fathers/grandfathers.”
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