Transcript Sex Stereotypes and Biological Theories of Gender Differences

Psychology 320:
Gender Psychology
Lecture 14
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Invitational Office Hour Invitations,
by Student Number for October 15th
11:30-12:30, 3:30-4:30 Kenny 2517
24515090
34013094
38240107
43452085
70591060
79548061
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Sex Stereotypes and Biological Theories of Gender
Differences
1. What are the consequences of sex stereotypes?
(continued)
2. What biological theories have been proposed to
explain gender differences?
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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:
1. explain how stereotype threat influences performance
among females and males.
2. distinguish between natural selection, sexual
selection, and intrasexual selection.
3. generate examples of characteristics that are the
product of distinct forms of selection.
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What are the consequences of sex stereotypes?
(continued)
3. Stereotype Threat (continued)
• Examples:
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1. Keller (2002)
 Recruited female and male high school students.
 Randomly assigned participants to one of two
conditions:
Threat condition: Statement read to participants
describing sex differences in performance on
previous math tests.
Non-threat condition: No statement read.
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 Stereotype salience resulted in reduced
performance on a math test among females but not
males.
Number of Correct Answers on Math Test
(Keller, 2002)
Females
Males
Threat
Non-Threat
Threat
Non-Threat
8.9
10.3
12.4
11.6
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2. Koenig and Eagly (2005)
 Recruited female and male university students.
 Randomly assigned participants to one of two
conditions:
Threat condition: Read a statement describing sex
differences in performance on previous social
sensitivity tests.
Non-threat condition: No statement provided.
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 Stereotype salience resulted in reduced
performance on a test of social sensitivity among
males but not females.
Mean Performance on Social Sensitivity Test
(Koenig & Eagly, 2005)
Females
Males
Threat
Non-Threat
Threat
Non-Threat
10.45
9.83
9.38
10.31
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What biological theories have been proposed to explain
gender differences?
• Biological theories of gender differences can be
classified into four groups:
1. Evolutionary Theories
 Evolutionary psychologists have adapted Darwin’s
theory of evolution to the study of gender differences.
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 Darwin’s theory of evolution maintains that,
across successive generations of a species,
organisms develop characteristics that enhance their
ability to survive and reproduce.
 Darwin proposed two mechanisms by which this
occurs: Natural selection and sexual selection.
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 Natural selection is a process through which
organisms, across successive generations of the
species, develop characteristics that enhance their
ability to survive.
Organisms that possess characteristics that
enhance their ability to survive are more likely to
live to reproductive age and pass these
characteristics on to the next generation.
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 Sexual selection is a process through which
organisms, across successive generations of the
species, develop characteristics that enhance their
ability to reproduce (but not necessarily their ability
to survive).
Organisms that possess characteristics that
enhance their ability to reproduce are more likely to
pass these characteristics on to the next
generation.
Darwin proposed 2 mechanisms through which
sexual selection occurs:
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(a) Intrasexual selection
 Occurs when same sex organisms compete for the
sexual interest of the opposite sex.
 Organisms that possess characteristics that enable
them to “win” the sexual interest of the opposite
sex are more likely to mate and to pass these
characteristics on to the next generation.
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Sex Stereotypes and Biological Theories of Gender
Differences
1. What are the consequences of sex stereotypes?
(continued)
2. What biological theories have been proposed to
explain gender differences?
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