Today's poll in Scotland on Sunday shows 34 per cent of women saying they will vote 'yes' in the referendum on Scottish independence on 18 September compared to 44 per cent of men.
This is probably due to women being less likely to engage in risky behaviour than men.
A research paper on the topic of gender differences in risk behaviour summarises the research as follows;
Many studies have noted that young human males are more prone than females to
take risks in relation to conflict (Campbell, 1999; Daly and Wilson, 1988; Wilson and
Daly, 1993,) and sexual behavior (Clift, Wilkins, and Davidson, 1993; Poppen 1995), as Sex differences in risk-taking well as in such situations as car driving (Chen, Baker, Braver, and Li, 2000; Flisher,
Ziervogel, Charlton, Leger, and Roberston, 1993; Harre, Field, and Kirkwood, 1996),
accident risk (Fetchenhauer and Rohde, 2002), drug-taking (Tyler and Lichtenstein, 1997),
gambling and financial decisions (Bruce and Johnson, 1994, Powell and Ansic, 1997) and
outdoor activities (Howland, Hingson, Mangione, and Bell, 1996, Wilson, Daly, Gordon,
and Pratt, 1996). Indeed, psychological studies have found that females find risky
situations more stressful than males do (Kerr and Vlaminkx, 1997).
'Sex Differences in Everyday Risk-Taking Behavior in Humans' Pawlowski B, Atwal R, Dunbar R 2008
http://www.epjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/ep062942.pdf
This is probably due to women being less likely to engage in risky behaviour than men.
A research paper on the topic of gender differences in risk behaviour summarises the research as follows;
Many studies have noted that young human males are more prone than females to
take risks in relation to conflict (Campbell, 1999; Daly and Wilson, 1988; Wilson and
Daly, 1993,) and sexual behavior (Clift, Wilkins, and Davidson, 1993; Poppen 1995), as Sex differences in risk-taking well as in such situations as car driving (Chen, Baker, Braver, and Li, 2000; Flisher,
Ziervogel, Charlton, Leger, and Roberston, 1993; Harre, Field, and Kirkwood, 1996),
accident risk (Fetchenhauer and Rohde, 2002), drug-taking (Tyler and Lichtenstein, 1997),
gambling and financial decisions (Bruce and Johnson, 1994, Powell and Ansic, 1997) and
outdoor activities (Howland, Hingson, Mangione, and Bell, 1996, Wilson, Daly, Gordon,
and Pratt, 1996). Indeed, psychological studies have found that females find risky
situations more stressful than males do (Kerr and Vlaminkx, 1997).
'Sex Differences in Everyday Risk-Taking Behavior in Humans' Pawlowski B, Atwal R, Dunbar R 2008
http://www.epjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/ep062942.pdf
