PSY BEH 101D Lecture Notes - Lecture 99: National Geographic Bee, Psy
2 Dec 2019
School
Department
Course
Professor
School of Psychology
PSY BEH 101D
LifeSpan Development
Summer Session
4 units
No Pre-reqs
Notes
● Cognitive Similarities and Differences:
○ Some experts stress that cognitive differences between males and females
have been exaggerated.
■ Ex: Hyde points out that there usually is considerable overlap in
distributions of female and male scores on visuospatial tasks.
● However, some researchers have found that males have better
visuospatial skills than females
● Despite equal participation in the National Geography Bee, in
most years all 10 finalists have been boys.
○ Gender differences in math?
■ No gender differences in math found in studies.
■ However, girls have a more negative math attitude and parents and
teachers expectations for children’s math competence are often
gender-biased in favor of boys.
■ 6-12 year olds reported that math is mainly for boys
○ Gender differences in reading and writing?
■ Strong evidence that females outperform males in reading and
writing.
○ Girls earn better grades and complete high school at a higher rate than boys
■ Males are more likely than females to be assigned to special/remedial
education classes.
■ Girls are more likely than boys to be engaged with academic material,
be attentive in class, put forth more academic effort, and participate
more in class.
● Socioemotional Similarities and Differences:
○ (1) Aggression:
■ One of the most consistent gender differences are that boys are more
physically aggressive than girls
■ Appears very early in children’s development.
■ Difference in physical aggression is especially pronounced when
children are provoked.
■ With verbal aggression gender differences typically disappear or
aggression is even more pronounced in girls.
■ Relational Aggression
● Involves harming someone by manipulating a relationship.
○ Trying to make others dislike a certain individual by
spreading malicious rumors about the person
