Psychology 320: Psychology of Gender and Sex Differences November 25 Lecture 29

Office Hour Invitations November 29, 11:30-2:30, Kenny 3102 33467101 38536124 43570100 43601103 66605080 71025134 73594095

Reminder Pavel (R-Z) is at a conference today and must reschedule his office hour to tomorrow, November 26, at 12:00-1:00 (Kenny 3508).

A little R&R …. (Review and Reflect)

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

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. identify universal emotions. 5. discuss sex differences in reported experiences of positive and negative emotions.

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

Sex differences in mathematical ability appear in Sex differences in mathematical ability appear in late childhood and increase across age groups. Sex differences in mathematical ability have decreased across time (i.e. decades). Meta-analyses: ds for overall mathematical ability range from +.00 to +.16.

Distribution of Effect Sizes in Meta-Analytic Study of Math Performance, d = +.05 (Lindberg et al., 2010) 11

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.

Rod and Frame Test Water Level Problem Spatial Perception

Mental Rotation

Spatial Visualization Embedded Figures Paper Folding Embedded Figures Spatial Visualization

Spatiotemporal Ability

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

Spatial Location Memory

Perceptual Speed

Maps

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

Meta-analyses: ds for overall spatial ability range from +.13 to +.25. Hyde (2005) maintains that sex accounts for less than 5% of variance in spatial ability.

Cross-cultural assessments of sex differences in Cross-cultural assessments of sex differences in cognitive abilities are consistent with the research findings noted thus far.

Are there sex differences in emotional experience? Picture the following: 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.

Ekman (1992) maintains that there are universal. emotions (i. e 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.

Ekman and Friesen’s (1971) Universal Emotions

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

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.

Mean Emotional Frequency Scores for Females and Males (Simon & Nath, 2004) p All feelings 45.10 ns Positive feelings 25.56 28.30 <.005 Negative feelings 18.55 16.80 <.05 Calm feelings 13.35 14.01 Excitement 13.20 14.29 Anxiety 8.13 7.22 .01 Sadness 4.74 3.73 <.001 Anger 4.66 4.75 Shame 1.02 1.11

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. identify universal emotions. 5. discuss sex differences in reported experiences of positive and negative emotions.