Do women talk more than men? The numbers! 🗣️

Contrary to popular belief, women's talkativeness compared to men's may not be a universal truth. A new, larger and more in-depth study than previous ones suggests that this difference actually depends on age and social context.

Stereotypes about gendered communication have long fueled debates. However, scientific research struggles to confirm these popular beliefs. A recent study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, sheds new light on this question by exploring variations in speech according to age and gender.

A marked difference in adulthood

Between the ages of 25 and 65, women speak an average of 3,000 more words per day than men. This age group, corresponding to working life and often parenthood, seems to be the only time when a significant gap appears. Researchers attribute this difference to specific social roles, such as child-rearing.

No notable disparity was observed among teenagers, young adults, or seniors. This suggests that biological factors, such as hormones, are not the only culprits. Social and family context would play a key role in this dynamic.

A general downward trend in speech

The study also reveals a general decrease in the number of words spoken over the years. Between 2005 and 2018, the average number of daily words dropped from 16,000 to 13,000. This decline could be linked to the rise of digital communication tools, which reduce face-to-face verbal interactions.

Researchers point out that this trend concerns all genders and age groups. Text messages and social networks seem to be gradually replacing traditional conversations, thus changing our communication habits.

Individual variations more significant than gender differences

The study highlights a great diversity in individual behaviors. The analysis reveals that among the subjects studied, the person who spoke the fewest words was a man: less than 100 words per day. At the opposite end, the person who spoke the most uttered over 120,000 words per day, and it was also a man. These gaps show that differences between individuals are much more pronounced than those between men and women.

Researchers emphasize the importance of not generalizing the results. Talkativeness depends more on personality and context than on gender. This nuance invites us to rethink persistent stereotypes about gendered communication.

Towards a better understanding of social interactions

Matthias Mehl, co-author of the study, is currently working on an innovative device, the "SocialBit," inspired by the Fitbit. This tool would measure the time spent conversing daily, without recording the content of the exchanges. The goal is to study the impact of social interactions on health and well-being.

According to him, social interactions are as important as sleep or physical exercise. Better understanding them could help improve our quality of life, especially in a world where digital communication is taking an increasingly prominent place.