Abstract
Sex differences in certain cognitive abilities, including aspects of semantic processing, are well established. However, there
have been no reports investigating a sex difference in semantic categorization. A total of 55 men and 58 women each judged
25 exemplars of natural categories (e.g., fruits) and 25 of artifact categories (e.g., tools) as a nonmember, partial member, or full member of the given category. Participants also rated confidence for each judgment.
Women provided a greater number of vague (partial member) judgments whereas men provided more inclusive (full member) judgments
of artifacts but more exclusive (nonmember) judgments of natural categories. The sex difference in vagueness was observed
across domains (Cohen’s d = .56). Confidence predicted categorization among both men and women, such that more confident participants exhibited fewer
vague category judgments. However, men and women were equally confident in their category judgments, and confidence failed
to explain the sex difference in categorization. Men and women appear to categorize the same common objects in systematically
different ways.
have been no reports investigating a sex difference in semantic categorization. A total of 55 men and 58 women each judged
25 exemplars of natural categories (e.g., fruits) and 25 of artifact categories (e.g., tools) as a nonmember, partial member, or full member of the given category. Participants also rated confidence for each judgment.
Women provided a greater number of vague (partial member) judgments whereas men provided more inclusive (full member) judgments
of artifacts but more exclusive (nonmember) judgments of natural categories. The sex difference in vagueness was observed
across domains (Cohen’s d = .56). Confidence predicted categorization among both men and women, such that more confident participants exhibited fewer
vague category judgments. However, men and women were equally confident in their category judgments, and confidence failed
to explain the sex difference in categorization. Men and women appear to categorize the same common objects in systematically
different ways.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-5
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-011-9764-y
- Authors
- Vickie Pasterski, Department of Paediatrics, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, University of Cambridge, Box 116, Level 8, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ UK
- Karolina Zwierzynska, Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Zachary Estes, Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002