Describes gender-based imagery preferences in research studies and instructional design, and the relationship of stages of aesthetic development to gender-based imagery preferences. Also provides four guidelines for selecting images for various purposes and discusses implications for further research to understand the impact of gender-based visual…

Parents of Swedish twin pairs ages 7 to 9 years and of British twin pairs ages 8 to 16 years completed the Child Behavior Checklist. Found that genetic factors influenced aggressive antisocial behavior to a greater extent than nonaggressive antisocial behavior, which was also significantly influenced by the shared environment. There was a…

Identifies three main strengths of Casey's spatial ability model, but notes that a study by McKeever found different results concerning the relationship between familial handedness and females' mental rotation ability. Considers the use of a familial handedness measure to be a weakness of the model because handedness might not be an inherited…

The assumptions that biological differences between the sexes are universal, inevitable, and desirable, and that they justify the social inequality of the sexes, were examined. It was suggested that feminists base demands to remedy this imbalance on the proposition that sex differences are due to both nurture and nature. (Author/KR)

This paper presents a critique of recent attempts to explain psychological differences between the sexes in terms of biology. (BD)

Discusses the reasoning and strategies of the biological approach to sex differences research. Refutes Rogers' and Walsh's (1982) perspective that, because biological and environmental factors are intertwined in the development of the nervous system, the biological contribution cannot be studied profitably. (CMG)

Examines the evidence for sex differences in cognitive functioning, and evaluates the evidence for hormonal, genetic, neuroanatomical, and cultural determinants of such differences. Inadequacies in research methodology are noted. (Author/SS)

A 3D mental rotation task was used to measure spatial performance in boys and girls in Ghana and Scotland. Sex differences of equal magnitude appeared in both cultures. In light of these findings, the author discusses genetic and environmental theories of spatial ability and the problems in testing such skills. (SJL)

A psychobiosocial model that is based on the inextricable link between the biological bases of intelligence and environmental events is proposed as an alternative to nature/nurture dichotomies. Societal implications and applications to teaching and learning are suggested. (MMU)

Explores whether evolved disposition that differs by sex or social structure explains sex differences in human behavior. Illustrates the explanatory power of each theory, and reviews a study (D. Buss, 1989) that supports the social structural theory with respect to mate preference. (SLD)

This paper describes a study which examined the performance of 48 pairs of 18-month-old twins on the Mental Development Scale of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development to determine whether score differences would be found for the three subgroups of identical, fraternal same-sexed, and fraternal opposite-sexed twins. Of the 96 subjects, 46 (23…

The research results indicate that, although sex differences in mathematical abilities are not pronounced before high school, for some reason by the end of that period boys do better than girls in mathematical computation and problem solving. Environmental and biological explanations, intervention strategies and further research needs are…

Investigates the relationship between the perinatal hormonal environment and the development of cognitive sex differences. Compares 25 upper class women aged 14 to 24 who were exposed prenatally to diethylstilbestrol (DES) and their unexposed sisters. Subjects show a more masculine pattern of lateralization than their sisters but are similar in…

Describes the origin and development of the variability hypothesis as applied to the study of social and psychological sex differences. Explores changes in the hypothesis over time, social and scientific factors that fostered its acceptance, and possible parallels between the variability hypothesis and contemporary theories of sex differences.…