Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T13:10:10.718Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 13 - Sex Differences in Intelligence

from Part III - Intelligence and Group Differences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

By
Diane F. Halpern ,
Anna S. Beninger  and
Carli A. Straight
Edited by
Robert J. Sternberg  and
Scott Barry Kaufman
Robert J. Sternberg
Affiliation:
Oklahoma State University
Scott Barry Kaufman
Affiliation:
New York University
Get access

Summary

This chapter explores the ways in which the sexes are similar and different in their cognitive abilities. It presents a balanced overview of the current findings in the research literature on sex differences in intelligence. The chapter discusses sex differences with regard to evolutionary perspectives, biological perspectives and sociocultural perspectives. A biopsychosocial model based on the inextricable links between the biological bases of intelligence and environmental events is an alternative to the nature-nurture dichotomy. The truth about sex differences in intelligence depends on the nature of the cognitive task being assessed, the range of ability that is tested, the age and education of the participants, and numerous other modifying variables. Data showing differences between men and women in intelligence do not support the notion of a smarter sex, nor do they imply that the differences are immutable.

Keywords

CNN electronic publicationetiologyg factorintelligenceintellectual disabilitiesgenomeintellectual abilities
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence , pp. 253 - 272
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×