The Illusion of Explanatory Depth from the Perspective of Gender Socialization

Abstract The illusion of explanatory depth – an unknown term in a known everyday life. Despite the fact that the term ‘illusion of explanatory depth’ has been coined quite recently, this work proves its importance and the need for further examination alongside with proliferation of the term. The author found it especially applicable to Eastern Europe because this term is rarely mentioned in the literature of these countries.

The purpose of the paper is to define the illusion of explanatory depth and explore this phenomenon from the perspective of gender socialization. Who can access one’s knowledge in the most rational way? This is the question that the paper answers. The review of literature is followed by the discussion of methodological techniques that are implemented to analyse and modify the data intended to indicate the level of the illusion of explanatory depth for males and females, comparing their results and providing relevant conclusions.

The empirical study on more than 200 international students aims to analyse the results of males and females from the perspective of the field of study one has – social experiment and the data collected by the author proceeded to the apropos conclusion and definition of the hypothesis.

The author managed to prove that gender defines the person’s level of the illusion of explanatory depth. The study that was conducted is the starting point for the future examination of further hypotheses.

A review of literature of a different nature helps to confirm the importance and relevance of the topic and the theory of the illusion of explanatory depth entirely.

An aspect of the particular significance of this study is familiarizing readers with the concept of the illusion of explanatory depth, which is scientifically underestimated and not independently widely known on its own. This paper aims to showcase that it is a phenomenon