ECU PSYC 3300 - Chapter 16 - Part 1 - Slides (9 pages)

6 19 2018 Chapter 16 Part 1 Sex Gender What s the difference Sex Biological Genetic influences Brain structure Hormone levels Gender Socially Culturally constructed What we learn about men women from our culture Science Politics Controversial topic See video on Blackboard Protest of talk about sex diffs by biologist Heather Heying at PSU on 2 17 2018 1 6 19 2018 Science Politics Concern findings of sex diffs might be used to support political agendas status quo Some argue that sex diffs Reflect gender stereotypes Reflect biases of scientists Don t reflect objective reality Science Politics Concern sex diffs conflict w egalitarian values Counterargument understanding sex diffs is essential for scientific psychology social change Ignoring diffs won t make them go away Naturalistic Fallacy Just because something exists in nature doesn t mean it s good History of the Study of Sex Diffs Before 1973 little attention paid to sex diffs 1974 Maccoby Jacklyn The Psychology of Sex Differences Informal summary of research Used meta analysis Draws conclusions across studies Determines size of diffs 2 6 19 2018 Effect Size Used to express diff in standard deviation units Can be calculated for each study of sex diffs averaged across studies Objective assessment of size of diffs Effect Size Represented by d d 20 small d 50 medium d 80 large d men higher d women higher Even large effects do not necessarily have meaning for any one individual Minimalists vs Maximalists Min sex diffs are small inconsequential Max size of diffs should not be trivialized even small effects can be important 3 6 19 2018 Sex Diffs in Personality Extraversion Gregariousness being social group oriented Women slightly higher d 15 Activity level Men slightly higher d 09 Assertiveness Men moderately higher d 50 Sex Diffs in Personality Agreeableness Trusting Women higher d 25 Tender minded Women higher d 97 Who smiles more Women d 60 Sex Diffs in Personality Aggressiveness Men more physically aggressive personality tests d 86 fantasies d 84 behavior d 63 Moderate to large effects 4 6 19 2018 Sex Diffs in Personality Aggressiveness Important consequences Men commit 90 of homicides far more violent crimes Sex Diffs in Personality Aggressiveness Risk taking Biggest diffs accompany puberty Peaks in adolescence early 20s Testosterone levels 5 6 19 2018 Fireworks related hospitalizations 2006 2010 Sex Diffs in Personality Conscientiousness Order Women slightly higher d 13 6 6 19 2018 Sex Diffs in Personality Emotional Stability Impulsiveness Men women similar d 06 Anxiety Women higher d 28 Sex Diffs in Personality Openness to Experience No sex diffs Sex Diffs in Personality Self esteem Small effect across ages Men score higher d 21 Young children age 7 10 slight difference d 16 7 6 19 2018 Sex Diffs in Personality Self esteem As children age Gap widens 11 14 d 23 15 18 d 33 In adulthood Gap closes 19 22 d 18 23 59 d 10 Sex Diffs in Personality Sexuality Large diffs Men more interest in casual sex d 81 desire more sexual partners d 87 Sex Diffs in Personality People things dimension Relates to job prefs Women more oriented toward people Social occupations working w others Men more toward things Prefer to work with machines 8 6 19 2018 Sex Diffs in Clinical Depression Childhood no sex diffs After puberty women 2 3 times as likely to suffer depression Why More rumination Repeatedly focusing on symptoms or distress Worsens prolongs depressive symptoms Largest sex diff ages 18 44 Later in life diff lessens 9