A new study finds that women are more likely become upset when men display irritating behavior.

Christopher J. Hopwood, a Michigan State University psychology professor, researcher and practicing therapist found that women become irritated when a man — be it an acquaintance, friend, or partner — is rude or boorish.

“Women generally are more sensitive to other people’s annoying behavior than men,” explains Hopwood.

“They’re maybe more socially aware, on average, and so perhaps it’s easier for them to pick out things that are annoying than men are.”

Hopwood surveyed 235 people to evaluate whether women and men differ in their sensitivities to the aversive behavior of the people with whom they interact.

The findings appear in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

While many studies have looked at differences between the sexes on individual behaviors (generally, the research suggests women are the warmer and more submissive sex, while men tend to be colder and more dominant), there has been less focus on these differences in social situations.

The current study examined a number of aversive behaviors such as being antagonistic, controlling, and overly or inappropriately affectionate.

Researchers believe the findings have cultural implications. That is, investigators believe the insights will improve understanding of detrimental behavior that could lead to relationship problems.

Source: Michigan State University

Women More Sensitive to Annoying Behavior