Sex Differences in Cognitive Abilities Fourth Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders. Where this has not been possible, we would be pleased to hear from the parties concerned. 8 Using a Biopsychosocial Perspective to Understand Cognitive Sex Differences 353 Advice for " Pop " 354 It is hard to believe, but it has been over 10 years since the publication of the third edition of Sex Differences in Cognitive Abilities and 25 years since the fi rst edition. I had no idea when I started studying this controversial topic that it would consume so much of my academic life. Much has changed over the intervening two and a half decades, with the pace of change accelerating since the last edition. The biological revolution has changed our understanding of the mind and behavior in general, but particularly in the way we think about cognitive sex differences. Modern neuroscience has permeated every area of psychology and the other sciences and social sciences, but even with its rapid developments it is clearly in its own infancy. Perhaps one of the greatest contributions from the biological revolution is that we can now see changes in the brain that result from experience. In a strange twist, modern biological techniques have advanced our understanding of the importance of environmental variables. One of the most distressing outcomes of modern neuroscience is the way fi ndings are being misused to advance political agendas. Fine (2010) has coined the term " neurosexism " for the misuse of neuroscience to justify sex role stereotypes. In a clever play on words, she calls the irresponsible use of fi ndings from the brain sciences " brain scams. " Supporters of the idea that men and women are essentially different—not just in their respective roles in reproduction but in how they learn and think—cite differences in the female and male brain to support their conclusions (e. What they do not understand is the very long leap from neurons to actual behavior …