Effect of gender on flirting at work

Abstract

Flirting at work has always occurred, but has just recently been on the forefront of scientific research (Aquino, Sheppard, Watkins, O'Reilly & Smith, 2015). Most of the current literature deals with sexual harassment in the workplace. Specifically, it addresses how power differences and organizational culture can encourage unwanted sexual advances (Popovich & Warren, 2010). There is also significant research about the different tactics that men and women use to flirt (Frisby, 2014).

In this thesis, I will review literature and preliminary survey data to examine the prediction that men's flirting tactics are more aggressive and power-oriented, while women's flirting methods are more caring and social in nature (De Weerth & Kalma, 1995). I will use Buss's (1990) evolutionary psychology theory as a framework to understand the differences we see with respect to men's and women's contemporary flirtation styles. The evolutionary theory also helps explain the social constructionist perspective of flirtation because the two theories actually support each other.