Gender Differences in Self‐Regulatory Failure: Exploring the Influence of Affect and Self‐Regulatory Focus

Abstract

In this research, the author explores a wide range of risky behaviors and highlights some important gender differences in the complex sociopsychological processes underlying these behaviors. Several hypotheses are developed based on an extensive literature review and tested in an empirical study with undergraduate students. The study shows that men are more likely to indulge in risky behaviors compared to women in general. Second, positive affect affects both the genders in a similar manner whereas negative affect induces greater risky behaviors among men compared to women. Third, promotion focus has a stronger influence on men compared to women and vice versa for prevention focus. Fourth, negative affect has a stronger influence on men under promotion focus and positive affect on women under preventive focus. Some limitations and directions for future research discussed.