Meta-analytic evidence for higher implicit affiliation and intimacy motivation scores in women, compared to men

•Focused on gender differences in implicit need for affiliation.•28 studies, 33 effect size estimates, 5962 research participants.•Weighted effect size d∗ = 0.45 (medium size).•Difference not due to coding system, story cues, or verbal fluency.•No difference in implicit needs for power, achievement.

We used meta-analysis to test for gender differences in implicit needs for affiliation/intimacy, assessed via story-coding methods. We included thirty-three effect sizes from 26 publications and 2 unpublished studies, covering a total of 5962 research participants (58% female). Across studies, women scored higher than men in measures of implicit affiliation motivation (d∗ = 0.45, 95%CI = [0.37; 0.53]). This finding was not moderated by the coding system used, gender congruence of the picture cues presented, or correction for protocol length. Men and women did not differ in their implicit needs for power (N = 2493, k = 15, d∗ = −0.19, 95%CI = [−0.44; 0.05]) or achievement (N = 2235, k = 13, d∗ = 0.14, 95%CI = [−0.03; 0.30]).