Research on biological sex and psychology investigates cognitive and behavioral differences between men and women. This research employs experimental tests of cognition, which take a variety of forms. Tests focus on possible differences in areas such as IQ, spatial reasoning, aggression, emotion, and brain structure and function.
Most IQ tests are constructed so that there are no overall score differences between females and males. Areas where differences have been found include verbal and mathematical ability.
Because social and environmental factors affect brain activity and behavior, where differences are found, it can be difficult for researchers to assess whether or not the differences are innate. Studies on this topic explore the possibility of social influences on how both sexes perform in cognitive and behavioral tests. Stereotypes about differences between men and women have been shown to affect a person's behavior. Common stereotypes characterize men as aggressive and logical, and characterize women as emotionally sensitive and irrational.
Read more about Sex And Psychology: History, General Theories, General Differences in Physical Brain Parameters, Biological Factors Involved in Gender Identity, Sexual Behavior, IQ, Mathematics, Spatial Abilities, Memory, Aggression, Personality Tests, Empathy, Emotion, Avoidance or Approach To Moderately Negative Stimuli, Happiness, Mental Health, Controversies
Famous quotes containing the word psychology:
“A writer must always try to have a philosophy and he should also have a psychology and a philology and many other things. Without a philosophy and a psychology and all these various other things he is not really worthy of being called a writer. I agree with Kant and Schopenhauer and Plato and Spinoza and that is quite enough to be called a philosophy. But then of course a philosophy is not the same thing as a style.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)