Exam 2: Psychology of Gender

Question 1

Psychology of Gender

Answer 1

Sex vs. Gender

• Sex: biologically based categories of m/f
• Gender: psychological features associated with biological states & social categories of m/f

Question 2

Gender Identity (Psychology of Gender term)

Answer 2

-Perception of self as psychologically m/f

Question 3

Cis-gendered (Psychology of Gender term)

Answer 3

-Gender identity corresponds to biological sex

Question 4

Transgendered (Psychology of Gender term)

Answer 4

-Gender identity does not correspond to biological sex

Question 5

Gender Fluid (Psychology of Gender term)

Answer 5

-Disagree with the binary concept of gender

Question 6

Sex Comparison Research

Answer 6

-What are some differences between m/f?
Math Ability
-SAT scores: m > f by 35 points
-Distribution issue: m > f in right tail (small group of men off the chart)
-Larger difference in cultures where women are less educated
-Decreased over time: 0 difference in scores today
Verbal Ability
-Large sex difference in writing (f > m)
-Verbal difficulties are higher in boys
-Distribution issue: m < f in left tail (small group of men off the chart)
-Decreased over time: 0 difference in verbal ability today

Question 7

46 Meta-Analyses (Sex Comparison Research)

Answer 7

• Meta Analyses: averages across studies what overall differences between m/f are
• 78% of studies show no sizable differences

Question 8

Research Difficulties (Sex Comparison Research)

Answer 8

• Experimenter effects (self fulfilling prophecy)
• Participant effects (not blind to being m/f)
• Communication of results (no writings on studies)
• Laboratory vs. Field
• Variables confounded with sex (status & gender role)

Question 9

Experimenter Effects (Sex Comparison Research, Research Difficulties)

Answer 9

• Experimenter & subject are same sexes (don’t conform to society’s gender roles)
• Experimenter & subject are opposite sexes (conform to society’s gender roles)
• Expectation is that females should report pain higher than males do
• Same sex: males report higher, females report lower
• Opposite sex: males report lower, females report higher

Question 10

Participant Effects or Demand Characteristics (Sex Comparison Research, Research Difficulties)

Answer 10

• When participants infer the experiment’s purpose and unconsciously change their behavior to fit that purpose
• More females reported having depression if labeled as hassles instead of depression
• More females did better with instructions labeled non-spatial than that labeled spatial

Question 11

Gender Roles

Answer 11

• Cluster of norms that apply to m/f

- Rules & expectations

Question 12

Psychological Gender Role Traits (Gender Roles)

Answer 12

Males
-Independent, active, brave, strong, competitive, etc.
Females
-Weak, timid, nurturing, emotional, helpful, kind, etc.

Question 13

Gender Role Socialization

Answer 13

• Process of learning to behave in a way based on gender that is acceptable to society
• Parents, teachers, peers, media

Question 14

Parents (Gender Role Socialization)

Answer 14

• Dress children up differently
• Different activities because of clothes
• Different toys
• Emphasize certain achievements by gender
• Emphasize close relationships for girls
• More emotional words with girls
• Pretend play for girls & rough play for boys
• Much stricter when disciplining boys

Question 15

Teachers (Gender Role Socialization)

Answer 15

• Highlight gender dichotomy
• Boys criticized & punished more than girls
• Bias in performance expectations (math/verbal abilities)
• Pay more attention to boys than girls in class
• Encourage boys to go into technology more
• Encourage girls to go into humanities more

Question 16

Gender Role Stereotypes

Answer 16

• Beliefs about person based on whether they are m/f
• Dangerous: could become self-fulfilling prophecy (prediction that confirms itself because of what one sees happen)

Effects over time?

• Girls and boys believe boys are better than girls
• Girls overall have less self-confidence than boys