Status quo or risk of cooperation and attitudes towards oneself and others from a gender perspective

Krystyna Adamska

Uniwersytet Gdański
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3605-3919

Sylwiusz Retowski

Uniwersytet SWPS, Wydział Psychologii w Sopocie
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6133-0658


Abstract

Research conducted to date on differences between men and women in terms of their willingness to take risks in cooperating with strangers has not yielded clear results. Simultaneously, socially shared gender stereotypes assign women roles related to maintaining close relationships, and men tasks related to public life. This is one of the reasons for the persistence of gender inequality. Based on social role theory, a hypothesis was put forward that the psychological mechanisms responsible for decisions to maintain the status quo or take the risk is the perception of oneself and others. In response to the problem of gender differences in the willingness to take risks in cooperation, the economic game Trust was used. Two studies were conducted: one on the perception of others (N=108) and the other on the perception of oneself (N=93). The results partially confirm the expectations of gender differences in decision-making. Men who opted for the status quo perceived their superiors as less cordial, assertive and competent, and women as more inclusive. Women, who demand more of themselves than men because they have a higher degree of perfectionism, do not significantly change their attitude in a situation of cooperation risk (no change was observed in men either). The results of the study indicate that differences in the perception of others, along with differences in decisions in the Trust game, may relate to different dimensions of assessment. This conclusion has practical implications, particularly in the context of shaping gender equality policy.


Keywords:

status quo, zaufanie, współpraca, wspólnotowość, sprawczość, perfekcjonizm


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Published
2026-06-29

Cited by

Adamska, K., & Retowski, S. . (2026). Status quo or risk of cooperation and attitudes towards oneself and others from a gender perspective. The Review of Psychology, 69(2), 55–73. https://doi.org/10.31648/przegldpsychologiczny.12078

Krystyna Adamska 
Uniwersytet Gdański
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3605-3919
Sylwiusz Retowski 
Uniwersytet SWPS, Wydział Psychologii w Sopocie
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6133-0658