1 Psychology 320: Psychology of Gender and Sex Differences December 1 Lecture 22

2 Office Hour Invitations December 3, 2:30-4:30PM, Kenny

A little R&R …. (Review and Reflect) 3

4 Intelligence, Cognitive Abilities, and Emotion 2. Are there sex differences in emotional experience? 1. Do females and males differ in their cognitive abilities? (continued)

5 By the end of today’s class, you should be able to: 1. discuss sex similarities and differences in: mathematical ability and spatial ability. 2. identify the age periods during which sex differences in mathematical ability and spatial ability emerge. 3. identify trends across time in the magnitude of sex differences in mathematical ability and spatial ability. 4. consider explanations for sex differences in cognitive abilities.

6 7. consider methodological limitations with respect to studies on sex and emotional experience. 6. discuss sex similarities and differences in reported experiences of positive emotions, negative emotions and affect intensity. 5. identify universal emotions.

7  Confidence in and identification with mathematics: M > F. Do females and males differ in their cognitive abilities? (continued) Research on mathematical ability (continued):

8  Meta-analyses: ds for overall mathematical ability range from +.00 to  Sex differences in mathematical ability have decreased across time (i.e. decades).  Sex differences in mathematical ability appear in late childhood and increase across age groups.

Distribution of Effect Sizes in Meta-Analytic Study of Math Performance, d = +.05 (Lindberg et al., 2010) 9

10 Research on spatial ability:  Wechsler’s performance intelligence scale: M > F.  Spatial perception: M > F.  Mental rotation: M > F.  Spatial visualization: M > F.  Spatiotemporal ability: M > F.

11 Spatial Perception Rod and Frame Test Water Level Problem

12 Mental Rotation

13 Spatial Visualization Embedded Figures Paper Folding Embedded Figures

14 Spatiotemporal Ability

15  Maps: F and M read and interpret maps differently.  Spatial location memory: F > M.  Perceptual speed: F > M.

16 Spatial Location Memory

17 Perceptual Speed

18 Maps

19  Sex differences in spatial ability appear in early childhood and increase across age groups.  Sex differences in spatial ability have decreased across time (i.e. decades).

20  Meta-analyses: ds for overall spatial ability range from +.13 to  Hyde (2005) maintains that sex accounts for less than 5% of variance in spatial ability.

21 In general, cross-cultural assessments of sex differences in cognitive abilities (e.g., Else-quest et al., 2010; Mullis et al., 2003; Silverman et al., 2007) are consistent with the research findings noted thus far.

22 Explanations for sex differences in cognitive abilities?

23 Are there sex differences in emotional experience? Joan and John have just learned that their neighbor was in a car accident and lost her baby. One cries; the other does not. Brenda and Mark have just witnessed two teenagers vandalize their car. One yells at the teenagers and chases them down the street; the other ignores the incident. Picture the following:

24 Ekman (1992) maintains that there are universal emotions (i.e., basic emotions) that generalize across sexes and cultures: happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, anger, and disgust.

25 Ekman and Friesen’s (1971) Universal Emotions

26 Nevertheless, some research suggests that females and males differ in the frequency and intensity with which they experience these and related emotions:

27 Simon and Nath (2004)  Asked respondents how many days in the previous week they experienced diverse emotions.  Found sex differences in the frequency with which positive and negative emotions were experienced. Social status (e.g., income level) and parental involvement accounted for the sex differences.

28 Mean Emotional Frequency Scores for Females and Males (Simon & Nath, 2004) FemalesMalesp All emotions45.10 ns Positive emotions <.005 Negative emotions <.05 Calm <.05 Excitement <.005 Anxiety Sadness <.001 Anger ns Shame ns

29 Diener, Sandvik, and Larsen (1985; also see Fischer et al., 2004; Kira et al., 2003)  Asked participants to complete two measures of affect intensity: the Affect Intensity Measure and the General Behavior Inventory.  Found sex and age differences in the intensity with which emotions were experienced.

30 Mean Scores for Affect Intensity (Diener, Sandvik, & Larsen, 1985)

31 The studies considered thus far employed retrospective measures. In contrast, “online” measures suggest minimal sex differences in emotional experience:

32 Larson and Pleck (1999)  Asked participants to record their emotional experiences using electronic pagers.  Found no sex differences in the frequency with which positive and negative emotions were experienced.  Attributed findings from studies using retrospective measures to sex differences in the encoding of emotion.

33 Frequencies of Positive and Negative Emotion Reported by Females and Males Using Online Measures Negative emotionPositive emotion

34 By the end of today’s class, you should be able to: 1. discuss sex similarities and differences in: mathematical ability and spatial ability. 2. identify the age periods during which sex differences in mathematical ability and spatial ability emerge. 3. identify trends across time in the magnitude of sex differences in mathematical ability and spatial ability. 4. consider explanations for sex differences in cognitive abilities.

35 7. consider methodological limitations with respect to studies on sex and emotional experience. 6. discuss sex similarities and differences in reported experiences of positive emotions, negative emotions and affect intensity. 5. identify universal emotions.