Chapter 3 Lecture Flashcards
What is sexual dimorphism?
Differences in body type and behaviour between males and females of a species. Can have either extreme or limited dimorphism.
What did Zell et al look at in their meta analysis on gender differences?
Looked at differences in thought, feeling, behaviour, intellectual abilities, communication styles, personality, happiness, wellbeing, physical abilities and more.
What percentage of differences were negligable to non-existent in the study by Zell et al?
39%
What percentage of differences were small?
46%
What percentage of differences were medium?
12%
What percentage of differences were large and extra large?
2% and 1% respectively.
Where were the medium differences found?
On aspects such as physical aggression and visual-spatial abilities.
Where were the large differences found?
Physical ability, throwing, sexual behaviours.
What are the 4 reasons we should question research?
1) Hawthorne effect
2) People lie especially about sex
3) Priming
4) some differences are a result of how we were treated, more so related to culture and not biology
What is the first myth about sex differences?
Sex differences are real if we can measure them- Zell’s study measured observed differences but not learned differences
What is the second myth about sex differences?
Sex differneces are real if the differences hold up overtime and across culture- however most research uses WEIRD subjects.
What does WEIRD stand for?
Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic
What do we usually find in WEIRD samples?
Unusual findings when comparing across cultures.
What is the third myth about sex differences?
Sex differences are real if they are biological - physical behaviour and traits are shaped by genes, but personality, emotion, cognitive ability and physical potential doesn’t have a specific genetic link.
Which chromosome contains more genetic material?
X chromosome.
What is the fourth myth about sex differences?
Sex differences are real if they are biological and immutable (unable to be changed).
What is the theory of biocultural interaction?
The idea that both biology and culture interact to make us who we are- our bodies respond to culture. Rejects both naturalism and culturalism.
What is the theory of intersectionality?
Gender is not all that we are. Differences in biology may be muted by things we share like nationality, religion, occupations. Gender intersects with race, class, and age.
What are the 4 ways that history discredits the opposites argument?
1) Our ancestors lived together with common goals and needs
2) There are strong evolutionary pressures towards sameness
3) Men and women make sexual decisions in response to cultural rules
4) Social construction of gender among early humans is just as cross-culturally variable, historically changing, and ideologically jumbled as ours.
