-Caveat Lector- Gender Differences by Gina Lynne LoSasso, PhD Men are smarter than women False: We all know this one's patently false, so let's bury it straight away. The fact is that the gals are every bit as smart as the guys are, and if the truth be told, the average guy would be quite reluctant to trade the intelligence and wisdom of the women in his life for increased cognitive interaction with other men. The varied intelligences and sensibilities of the sexes complement each other. This is due to the blending of basic similarities and the unique perspective that emerges when a human being develops into a gendered individual. Women score lower on IQ tests False: While the average scores on standardized IQ tests for males (as a group) tend to be slightly higher than for females, the difference is negligible. IQ tests are designed to minimize bias in order to be able to make sensible comparisons between individuals within a larger population. For that reason, items that are biased against a particular group - a group distinguished, for example, by gender or race - are eliminated. More boys are assessed as mentally retarded than girls True: While male and female IQ test performance is statistically equivalent on average, the male and female score distributions are quite different. There are more men scoring at both the upper and lower extremes of the normal distribution curve. This reflects a greater variability of scores within the male population and results in a preponderance of males at both tails of the bell curve. But for the smaller size of female brains, male and female brains are the same False: While female brains are slightly smaller than male brains, the difference is negligible. There are other structural differences between the male and female brain that may play greater roles in accounting for differences in cognitive functioning. These differences include neuronal density, number of synapses, lateralization and localization of functioning, and the relative sizes of the lobes, hemispheres, and corpus callosum. Hormones exert a significant effect on cognition True: Not only do hormones exert a profound influence on emotional behavior, but there is strong evidence of the relationship between hormone levels and cognitive functioning. This includes support for a curvilinear relationship between testosterone levels and spatial ability, and a linear relationship between estrogen levels and verbal skills. This effect is profound enough in some females to diminish the left field advantage, or cause a shift to right field superiority, when female hormone levels fall to a minimum during the premenstrual phase. Additionally, healthy young males given an injection of female hormones not only showed reduced practice effects on a spatial task, but significant increases in verbal fluency. If we gave girl babies more "boy's toys" they'd develop the same skills as boys False: The truth is that babies are fed similar fare in the toy department, with the possible exception of color-coding. Pink mobiles and rattles work just as well to exercise spatial and motor coordination as blue ones. However, certain behavioral factors, such as attitudes and expectations, can affect a child's intellectual performance. Whether these factors are internal and self-imposed or external, like the expectations of parents, teachers and peers, they act to limit or enhance cognitive ability and performance regardless of sex. Homosexual men tend to score in a pattern similar to females on IQ tests True: From the limited studies that have been undertaken on this topic, findings suggest that homosexual men tend to have patterns of cognitive performance more similar to those of women than to those of heterosexual men. Women who are masculine in appearance and personality usually exhibit a pattern of cognitive ability more similar to males than to females True: This is a well-known effect relating to hormonal influences. To add to the complexity of the situation, left-handed individuals tend to possess a pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses more similar to right-handed individuals of the opposite sex! li Most historical geniuses have been male True::But while historical figures of genius have typically been male, there are very strong social, political and cultural factors that determine who goes down in our history books...and indeed, what goes down in history, period. The fact that women's achievements have been routinely underrepresented in classroom texts is a matter of record. For a look at some truly marvelous contributions from women of genius and spirit, visit: www.undelete.org Men are better at arithmetic than women False: Women excel in skills involving basic arithmetical calculation. As a group, their performance is superior to that of men. In discussions of individual differences, it is important to note that there is typically a substantial overlap of male and female score distributions in a particular skill even when there is a statistically significant inter-gender difference in that skill. So generalizations are of limited predictive value on an individual level; when all you know about a person is gender, it is impossible to meaningfully speculate about his or her cognitive abilities. Men have better spatial skills than women True: This is particularly true regarding tasks that require mental rotation, a right hemisphere task. This finding is robust and consistent. However, it does not follow that men are stronger in right hemisphere functioning in general. For example, women are distinctly better at recognizing facial expressions, and some studies show that women have superior ability to distinguish melodic sound patterns. Since these too are right hemisphere tasks, it would be incorrect to say that either gender is better at right hemisphere tasks. It would be more correct to say that each gender excels in different kinds of right-hemisphere tasks. Women have greater focus and are able to stick with a task longer False: The opposite is true. This appears to be primarily related to testosterone levels. Automatization, or perseverance while engaging in behaviors that do not require excessive physical or mental exertion (like standing guard or working on an assembly line), is also related to testosterone levels. Women have better verbal skills than men True::The greatest female advantage appears with respect to measures of general verbal ability, anagrams, and quality of speech production. The advantage increases with the introduction of a memory or learning component that raises task complexity. Males have faster processing speed False: Women consistently outperform men on tests of psychomotor speed and accuracy based on visual stimuli. The difference is very pronounced in young children. While the female advantage persists into adulthood, it gradually becomes less prominent. Men are better mathematicians True: Although the gap has narrowed with the equalization of opportunity between genders, there is a persistent male advantage in mathematical performance (at least as it stands today). This is particularly true in the more advanced realms of theoretical mathematics and physics. The differences in ability between the sexes comes down to genetics False: There are many factors that contribute to observed inter-gender differences in cognitive ability. These include, but are not limited to, biological, environmental, psychological, hormonal, and socio-cultural factors. Roles, opportunities, attitudes and expectations have an extremely significant effect on the development of skills and talents. These factors are all the more significant because, in our roles as teachers, parents, peers and self-actualizing beings, we can modify and control them in order to maximize the actualization of human potential. Disclaimer: Contrary studies may exist. The author has done her best to present some of the most robust, consistent, and up-to-date findings on these issues. consistent current findings. .................. .... Reading List: Rita Carter Mind Mapping Pierce J. Howard The Owner's Manual for the Brain Arthur Jensen The g-factor Kandel, Schwartz & Jessell Principles of Neural Science Muriel Lezak Neuropsychological Assessment ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- Ubiquity Table of Contents <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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