Abstract:
Women seem to outperform men in academic environments. They are overrepresented at Universities and need a year less, on average, to succeed the same educational program. Gender differences in school performance have been observed and analyzed multiple times. So far, the conclusion has been that differences in self-control is the main predictor for success in school, since this hampers the tendency to procrastinate on tasks. Nevertheless, others parameter are very likely to affect procrastinating behavior as well. The way people discount the future, as well as to what extent people care for their future self could affect the choice to procrastinate on tasks. Whereas the former could increases the incentive to procrastinate, the latter possibly reduces the tendency for preventing procrastinating behavior. This article therefore analyzes if these concepts affect procrastination and success in school. And more importantly: are these concepts different between gender. This could further help to explain these demographic differences with respect to failing educational years. A survey was used to gather data. Results show that men discount the future more than women, have less self-control and less empathy for their future self. Yet, only self-control affects procrastination and empathy affects self-control and future discounting.
