Explain why the literature on sex differences in interruptions appears mixed and conflicting. What do meta-analyses of sex differences in interruptions conclude? Are there types of interruptions that show consistent sex differences? If so, describe them and explain when men and women may each be more likely to interrupt.

Question

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Answer 1

There are large discrepancies across studies of sex differences in interruptions partly because there are many different ways for researchers to define interruptions. Meta-analyses have found either small or no sex differences in interruption when collapsing across all studies. However, only looking at interruptions that include one speaker talking over another in a disrespectful and undermining manner do show larger, but still small sex differences favoring men. Conversely, when examining supportive interruptions--cooperative type of speech that signaled interests and affirms the speakers’ meaning--women tend to interrupt more than men. Thus, while women tend to interrupt more often in ways that build rapport, men tend to interrupt more often in ways that dominate conversation.