Psychology of Sex Differences

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"In what ways and to what extent do boys and girls, men and women, differ in social behavior, intellectual abilities, motivations, and aspirations? This monumental work, the most complete of its kind ever published, answers the question in two ways. First, it offers a systematic analysis and interpretation of a massive body of reported research findings (including findings of no differences) in such areas as perception, cognition, self-concept, activity level, sociability, aggression, competition, dominance, modeling and socialization, hormonal levels, and genetic factors. Second, it presents an exhaustive annotated bibliography of over 1,400 research studies published since 1965 or not included in the pioneering Bibliography of The Development of Sex Differences, edited by Professor Maccoby (Stanford, 1966). The published studies considered in the text are summarized by age of subjects in some eighty topical tables, and the findings are discussed in the light of existing theories of the origins of sex differences. In a final chapter the authors asses the validity of the most widely held beliefs about sex differences. Some they find to be pure myth, e.g., that women are more social, less analytical. Others are supported by impressive evidence, e.g., that men are more aggressive, less verbal. Still others are as yet inadequately tested, e.g., that men are more competitive, women more compliant. The main patterns of similarity and differences between the sexes are explored, and the authors conclude by considering the social implications of their findings."-Publisher.