Lateralized brain damage, intelligence, and memory: A failure to find sex differences.

Tested the validity of findings by J. McGlone (1977) of a difference in the sexes in the cognitive sequelae of lateralized brain damage. The present study tested 28 male and 17 female patients with left and right hemisphere infarcts. Although Ss with left and right hemisphere infarcts showed differential impairment on measures of visual and verbal memory and on Performance scale IQ of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), there were no differences between male and female Ss. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The contingent smile: A meta-analysis of sex differences in smiling.

The authors present a meta-analysis of sex differences in smiling based on 448 effect sizes derived from 162 research reports. There was a statistically significant tendency for women and adolescent girls to smile more than men and adolescent boys (d=0.41). The authors hypothesized that sex differences in smiling would be larger when concerns about gender-appropriate behavior were made more conspicuous, situational constraints were absent or ambiguous, or emotion (especially negative) was salient. It was also predicted that the size of the sex difference in smiling would vary by culture and age. Moderator analysis supported these predictions. Although men tend to smile less than women, the degree to which this is so is contingent on rules and roles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A reanalysis of gender differences in IQ scores following unilateral brain lesions.

Meta-analyses of gender differences in the consequences of unilateral brain lesions have reported a positive correlation between the percentage of men in studies and the magnitude of the difference between Verbal (V) and Performance (P) IQ. Such findings are limited by both the indirectness of the methodology and the focus on V–P differences rather than on the separate effects of brain lesions on VIQ and PIQ. A repeated-measures analysis was conducted of studies that reported separate VIQ and PIQ means for men and women with unilateral lesions. Women showed lower IQ scores following lesions to the hemisphere thought to be nondominant for each function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Statistically combining independent studies: A meta-analysis of sex differences in conformity research.

Compares traditional (literary) reviews of research in social psychology with a statistical approach. It is concluded on both abstract and practical grounds that adoption of the statistical approach would lead to theoretical progress for the research area covered. A meta-analysis "package" is described and then applied to the question of whether there are sex differences in degree of conformity. The meta-analysis is yoked to a literary analysis, and conclusions of differing direction and confidence appear. Problems in application are encountered, and appropriate courses of action are discussed. Finally, limitations on the power of the procedure are outlined. (69 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interhemispheric and intrahemispheric control of emotion: A focus on unilateral brain damage.

Neocortical contributions to emotional processing are discussed. First, parameters critical to the neuropsychological study of emotion are examined: interhemispheric (right, left) and intrahemispheric (anterior, posterior) factors, processing mode (expression, perception), and communication channel (facial, prosodic, lexical). Second, neuropsychological theories of emotion are described: right-hemisphere and valence hypotheses. Third, experimental studies of right-brain-damaged, left-brain-damaged, and normal adults are reviewed, on the basis of mode and channel, with a focus on stroke. Findings support right cerebral hemispheric dominance for emotion, regardless of valence and channel, and are more consistent for perception than expression. When lesion site is a factor, posterior sites are important for perception and anterior ones for expression. Finally, clinical implications are suggested for aphasia rehabilitation and for assessment of affect in neurological disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethnic differences on the Bender-Gestalt: Relative effects of measured intelligence.

223 Black, 203 Hispanic, and 226 White 5–11 yr olds were administered the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test (BVMG) and either the WPPSI or WISC—R to investigate ethnic differences on the BVMG and to clarify the effects of intelligence on BVMG performance. ANOVA indicated that there were significant differences among ethnic groups on BVMG performance for 4 age groups (6, 9, 10, and 11 yrs) and for the total sample. In general, Blacks made more errors than did the other ethnic groups, and their scores produced the lowest correlation coefficient with age. Data were reanalyzed using the Full Scale, Verbal, and Performance IQs as covariates. These analyses indicated that IQ was a significant factor for each age group and either eliminated or decreased the significance of the main effect (ethnicity). Implications for test interpretation and limitations are discussed. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A test of sex differences in aggressive response to hypothetical conflict situations.

Administered the response hierarchy (RH), developed by A. D. Leifer and D. F. Roberts (1972) and revised by J. M. Reinisch (see record 1982-00859-001), to 289 male and 268 female college students. The RH provides a retrospective estimate of where physical and verbal aggression reside in an individual's hierarchy of possible behavioral responses to hypothetical conflict situations in adolescence. Results indicate that the RH consistently demonstrated sex differences among Ss in retrospectively reported preference for choosing physical aggression vs other coping strategies as a response to hypothetical interpersonal conflict situations of adolescence. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Magnitude of sex differences in spatial abilities: A meta-analysis and consideration of critical variables.

In recent years, the magnitude, consistency, and stability across time of cognitive sex differences have been questioned. The present study examined these issues in the context of spatial abilities. A meta-analysis of 286 effect sizes from a variety of spatial ability measures was conducted. Effect sizes were partitioned by the specific test used and by a number of variables related to the experimental procedure in order to achieve homogeneity. Results showed that sex differences are significant in several tests but that some intertest differences exist. Partial support was found for the notion that the magnitude of sex differences has decreased in recent years. Finally, it was found that the age of emergence of sex differences depends on the test used. Results are discussed with regard to their implications for the study of sex differences in spatial abilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Negro-white differences in intelligence test performance: A new look at an old problem.

Negro-white differences on mental tests are evaluated in this paper, which was prepared at the suggestion of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (Division 9 of the American Psychological Association). "The evidence against the assumption of native differences in intelligence test performance between Negroes and whites still seems to me to be very convincing." There is "no scientifically acceptable evidence for the view that ethnic groups differ in innate abilities. This is not the same as saying that there are no ethnic differences in such abilities… . The science of psychology can offer no support to those who see in the accident of inherited skin color or other physical characteristics any excuse for denying to individuals the right to full participation in American democracy." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Men and things, women and people: A meta-analysis of sex differences in interests.

The magnitude and variability of sex differences in vocational interests were examined in the present meta-analysis for Holland’s (1959, 1997) categories (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional), Prediger’s (1982) Things–People and Data–Ideas dimensions, and the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) interest areas. Technical manuals for 47 interest inventories were used, yielding 503,188 respondents. Results showed that men prefer working with things and women prefer working with people, producing a large effect size (d = 0.93) on the Things–People dimension. Men showed stronger Realistic (d = 0.84) and Investigative (d = 0.26) interests, and women showed stronger Artistic (d = ?0.35), Social (d = ?0.68), and Conventional (d = ?0.33) interests. Sex differences favoring men were also found for more specific measures of engineering (d = 1.11), science (d = 0.36), and mathematics (d = 0.34) interests. Average effect sizes varied across interest inventories, ranging from 0.08 to 0.79. The quality of interest inventories, based on professional reputation, was not differentially related to the magnitude of sex differences. Moderators of the effect sizes included interest inventory item development strategy, scoring method, theoretical framework, and sample variables of age and cohort. Application of some item development strategies can substantially reduce sex differences. The present study suggests that interests may play a critical role in gendered occupational choices and gender disparity in the STEM fields. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prediction of unilateral brain dysfunction using Wechsler test scores.

This study investigated whether oblique factor scores for Wechsler tests discriminate right- and left-hemisphere brain dysfunction more effectively than subtest or scale scores. A criterion sample of 60 psychomotor-seizure epileptics was divided into 2 equal cross- validation groups with comparable proportions of right and left Ss. 3 measures of lateralization were used, with a criterion cut-off of at least 2 measures lateralizing each S. A computer-programmed, "stepwise" regression analysis was performed utilizing a double cross-validation design. Regular scale scores proved more effective than factor scores, although the latter were nearly comparable using a different factor-extraction matrix. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A historical footnote on sex differences research.

Discusses the debate between J. Jastrow (1891, 1896) and M. W. Calkins (1896) regarding cognitive sex differences, and A. Tanner's (1896) suggestions for clarifying such differences. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Piagetian test of general intelligence.

Investigated the possibility of shortening the Piagetian test by means of classical item analysis methodology. It is shown that from only 13 items, a Piagetian test can be formed that is an excellent measure of general intelligence in its own right but can also add to the information furnished by WISC Verbal and Performance IQs and academic achievement. Reasons for the high correlations reported are discussed, and the results are integrated into a theory of general intelligence. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender differences in self-esteem: A meta-analysis.

Two analyses were conducted to examine gender differences in global self-esteem. In Analysis I, a computerized literature search yielded 216 effect sizes, representing the testing of 97,121 respondents. The overall effect size was 0.21, a small difference favoring males. A significant quadratic effect of age indicated that the largest effect emerged in late adolescence (d?=?0.33). In Analysis II, gender differences were examined using 3 large, nationally representative data sets from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). All of the NCES effect sizes, which collectively summarize the responses of approximately 48,000 young Americans, indicated higher male self-esteem (ds ranged from 0.04 to 0.24). Taken together, the 2 analyses provide evidence that males score higher on standard measures of global self-esteem than females, but the difference is small. Potential reasons for the small yet consistent effect size are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex differences in impulsivity: A meta-analysis.

Men are overrepresented in socially problematic behaviors, such as aggression and criminal behavior, which have been linked to impulsivity. Our review of impulsivity is organized around the tripartite theoretical distinction between reward hypersensitivity, punishment hyposensitivity, and inadequate effortful control. Drawing on evolutionary, criminological, developmental, and personality theories, we predicted that sex differences would be most pronounced in risky activities with men demonstrating greater sensation seeking, greater reward sensitivity, and lower punishment sensitivity. We predicted a small female advantage in effortful control. We analyzed 741 effect sizes from 277 studies, including psychometric and behavioral measures. Women were consistently more punishment sensitive (d = ?0.33), but men did not show greater reward sensitivity (d = 0.01). Men showed significantly higher sensation seeking on questionnaire measures (d = 0.41) and on a behavioral risk-taking task (d = 0.36). Questionnaire measures of deficits in effortful control showed a very modest effect size in the male direction (d = 0.08). Sex differences were not found on delay discounting or executive function tasks. The results indicate a stronger sex difference in motivational rather than effortful or executive forms of behavior control. Specifically, they support evolutionary and biological theories of risk taking predicated on sex differences in punishment sensitivity. A clearer understanding of sex differences in impulsivity depends upon recognizing important distinctions between sensation seeking and impulsivity, between executive and effortful forms of control, and between impulsivity as a deficit and as a trait. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex differences in self-disclosure: A meta-analysis.

Conducted a meta-analysis of 205 studies involving 23,702 Ss to determine whether there are sex differences in self-disclosure. Across these studies, women disclosed slightly more than men (d?=?18). This effect size was not homogeneous across studies. Several moderator variables were found. Sex of target and the interaction effect of relationship to target and measure of self-disclosure moderated the effect of sex on self-disclosure. Sex differences in self-disclosure were significantly greater to female and same-sex partners than to opposite-sex or male partners. When the target had a relationship with the discloser (i.e., friend, parent, or spouse), women disclosed more than men regardless of whether self-disclosure was measured by self-report or observation. When the target was a stranger, men reported that they disclosed similarly to women; however, studies using observational measures of self-disclosure found that women disclosed more than men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender differences in temperament: A meta-analysis.

The authors used meta-analytical techniques to estimate the magnitude of gender differences in mean level and variability of 35 dimensions and 3 factors of temperament in children ages 3 months to 13 years. Effortful control showed a large difference favoring girls and the dimensions within that factor (e.g., inhibitory control: d = -.41, perceptual sensitivity: d = -0.38) showed moderate gender differences favoring girls, consistent with boys' greater incidence of externalizing disorders. Surgency showed a difference favoring boys, as did some of the dimensions within that factor (e.g., activity: d = 0.33, high-intensity pleasure: d = 0.30), consistent with boys' greater involvement in active rough-and-tumble play. Negative affectivity showed negligible gender differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Disorders of visuo-spatial attention in patients with unilateral brain damage

Visuo-spatial inattention (VSI) was examined in 390 patients with ischemic insult to the right or left cerebral hemispheres. VSI was revealed in 44 out of 80 patients with right parietal lobe damage and in 30 out of 70 subjects with right occipital lobe injury. Only one patient out of 100 with left hemisphere injury has shown the signs of VSI. These data confirm the suggestion that the right parietal and occipital regions are crucial for visuo-spatial attention, whereas the left hemisphere is of minor import.