Sex differences as related to measurement of emotional arousal

This study examined two categories of stress as a possible factor in previously mixed findings with regard to sex differences. Imagined physical stress and mental stress were induced by having Ss listen to tape-recorded descriptions of a car accident or taking a final exam. A self-report checklist was used to obtain ratings of anxiety, hostility and depression, and a Likert-type scale was employed to get Ss' estimates of their own emotional reactions. All Ss showed marked increase in emotionality scores after scene presentations. The results did not support the view that there are sex differences in responding due to different stressful conditions. However, females tended to express more emotionality than males to the stressful scenes. These differences were discussed in view of in vivo vs. in vitro presentation of stressful stimuli and the obtainment of sex differences as a function of where the measurement instrument falls on a subtle-obvious dimension.