The Psychology of Gender 4th Edition

Sex-Related Comparisons: Observations 133

Key Terms

Confirmatory hypothesis testing—Process

of noticing information that confirms

stereotypes and disregarding information

that disconfirms stereotypes.

Construct validity—Evidence that a

scientific instrument measures what it was

intended to measure.

Effect size—Size of a difference that has

been found in a study.

Empathy—Ability to experience the same

emotion as another person or feel sympathy

or compassion for another person.

File-drawer problem—Difficulty

encountered when compiling a review of

scientific literature because studies showing

null results are unlikely to be published.

Gender intensification—Concern on the

part of girls and boys with adherence to

gender roles; applies to adolescence.

Meta-analysis—Statistical tool that

quantifies the results of a group of studies.

Moderating variable—Variable that alters

the relation between the independent

variable and the dependent variable.

Morality of responsibility (care

orientation)—Moral reasoning that

emphasizes connections to others,

responsibilities, and others’ feelings.

Morality of rights (justice orientation)—

Moral reasoning that emphasizes separation

from others, rights, rules, and standards of

justice.

Narrative review—Review of scientific

literature in which the authors reach

their own conclusions about whether the

majority of studies provide evidence for

or against the topic of the review (e.g., sex

differences).

Gilligan, C. (1982).In a different voice:

Psychological theory and women’s

development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard

University Press.

Halpern, D. F., Benbow, C. P., Geary, D. C.,

Gur, R. C., Shibley Hyde, J., & Gerns-

bacher, M. A. (2007). The science of sex

differences in science and mathematics.

Psychological Science in the Public Interest,

8 , 1–51.

Hyde, J. S. (2005a). The gender similarities

hypothesis.American Psychologist, 60,

581–592.

(Classic) Maccoby, E. E., & Jacklin, C. N.

(1974).The psychology of sex differences.

Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Suggested Reading

6. Which cognitive differences
   between women and men seem
   most likely due to environmental
   factors, and which seem most likely
   due to biological factors?


7. What are some of the methodological
   problems in making sex comparisons
   in social behavior?
   8. What are some moderator
   variables of sex differences in
   aggression?
   9. Do women and men define morality
   differently?


8. How are identity and intimacy re-
   lated for men and women today?
   Should Erikson’s theory be modified?

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