EN
The article discusses similarities and differences in the personality development of men and women in their life-span. The analyses of the developmental psychology research show that boys and girls develop their own personality from the early years of their life, thus adapting themselves to the gender stereotypes. The article also contains a survey of meta-analyses concerning the personality traits of men and women, conducted in different countries from 1958 to 2001 (Maccoby, Jacklin, 1974, Hall, 1984, Feingold, 1994, Costa, Terraciano, McCrae, 2001). The metaanalyses show a coherent image of gender differences in personality traits concerning greater tender-mindedness in women and greater assertiveness in men. At the same time, they indicate temporal changes and trends connected with a tendency for differences to disappear. They also emphasize cultural distinctness.