HeTexted, SheTexted: Gender Differences in Text Communication Behavior and Interpretation

Abstract

Text messaging technology has dramatically changed the way we communicate today, but the lack of nonverbal cues make miscommunication common. Gender differences exist in all forms of communication, so it would make sense that miscommunication in cross-gender text interactions would be especially prevalent. The goal of this study was to test whether there are gender differences in the interpretation of text interactions and whether men and women behave differently in text communication. 81 participants (29 male and 52 female) rated the behavior of male and female texters in eight cross-gender text interactions. Results showed that female texters were perceived as caring more about their interactions than male texters; as more interested in their interaction partners; as more annoyed in their interactions; and as less angry, less mean, and sadder than their male counterparts. There were no gender differences between participants in their perceptions of the text interactions aside from flirtatiousness: female participants rated male texters as more flirtatious while male participants rated female texters as more flirtatious. No gender difference was found in the proportion of text cues that participants recalled using for analysis of the text interactions.