SEX DIFFERENCES IN STORY RECEIPT AND STORY SEQUENCING BEHAVIORS IN DYADIC CONVERSATIONS

Abstract

Recordings of 30-minute dyadic conversations between strangers were coded for the frequency of occurrence of 11 story receipt and eight story sequencing variables, for the duration of all storytellings, and for the frequency of occurrence of story sequences. Analysis of the data indicated that (1) females spent significantly more time than males as the recipients of storytelling; (2) males and females differed significantly on a linear combination of five story receipt variables (displays interest tokens, appreciates, adds or predicts details, withholds sequential talk, and withholds all talk at story's end); (3) there were no significant differences between males and females in the number of sequential stories told; (4) females and males differed significantly on a linear combination of two story sequencing devices, embedded repeat and marked repeat.