Do Men Think More Logically Than Women? Science Debunks the Myth

Joe Conway
Apr 4
2 min read

The Myth:

"Men are logical. Women are emotional."

This line has been thrown around for centuries like it's gospel. But it’s mostly lazy thinking built on cultural bias, not actual brain science.

What Does the Science Say?

1. Brains Are More Alike Than Different

The biggest meta-analyses (like the one by Janet Hyde) show that men and women’s brains are 90% similar in terms of structure and function. Differences? Yes. But not enough to make broad claims like "men are logical" and "women are emotional."

2. Emotion vs. Logic Isn’t a Binary

Both logic and emotion come from interconnected regions of the brain—and everybody uses both. For example:

The amygdala processes emotions.
The prefrontal cortex helps with decision-making and logic.

Everyone has both. Not a gendered trait—just human wiring.

3. Cultural Conditioning Plays a Huge Role

Society trains men to suppress emotion and women to express it. So what looks like “men being logical” may actually be men masking emotions, and what looks like “women being emotional” may just be normal human expression that’s been stigmatized.

4. Different Stress Responses—Not Better or Worse

Under stress, some research shows:

Men may go for the "fight or flight" response.
Women may lean toward "tend and befriend" (seek support).

This isn’t about logic vs. emotion—it’s about different survival strategies, both rooted in evolutionary psychology.

5. Big Individual Differences Matter More

There’s more variability within genders than between them. Some women are super analytical. Some men are emotionally attuned. Gender is not a reliable predictor of how someone thinks.

Bottom line:

No—men are not more logical, and women are not more emotional. That’s outdated junk science mixed with social conditioning. Humans are complex. Thinking styles are shaped by personality, upbringing, culture, and individual brain wiring—not just what's between your legs.

Call to Action:

Challenge people when they repeat this myth. Ask, “Are you sure that’s based on evidence, or just stereotypes?” Let’s call it what it is: a lazy excuse for not understanding people as individuals.