Biological Theories Testosterone For men, dominance positively correlated with T (r = .25) For women, Conscientiousness negatively correlated with T(r = -.40) Women who score high on masculinity and masculine traits Overactive Adrenal Gland High Testosterone High levels of androgens in female fetuses Hemispheric Lateralization Men use mostly right hemisphere for visuospatial processing Women use left more or both hemispheres more symmetrically For Testosterone: no correlations with O, E, A, N Women who score high on masculinity and masculine traits -Overactive Adrenal Gland: Better spatial rotation ability and throwing accuracy; Prefer male toys High Testosterone: More masculine career; More masculine appearance and personality High levels of Androgens (male hormones): When female fetuses had unusually high levels of androgens (male hormones) girls exhibited traditionally masculine behaviors and interests Showed little interest in playing with dolls Showed little concern with cosmetics, jewelry, or hairstyles Had assertiveness and attitudes toward sexuality and achievement that resembled males’ Hemispheric Lateralization: Assessed hippocampus activity as men and women moved through 3-D virtual mazes -Men were more accurate at estimating direction, especially in long mazes -During maze: men showed more activation in right hippocampus; women showed more activation in left hioppocampus Amygdala – plays a major role in processing emotions Men have a larger amygdala than women, but women have a relatively larger orbital-frontal region, which is responsible for modulating (controlling) input to the amygdala This means that females have relatively more cortex available for modulating emotional input, which could result in more efficient processing of emotions and better consolidation of emotional memories, more impulse control, less risk-taking behavior (Sellers et al., 2007)

Evolutionary Psychology Women Adaptive Problem: Commitment - Finding a partner on which to depend and provide for family Solution: Women higher in N Dependence and anxiety about relationships help women to keep partner Men Adaptive Problem: Paternity Certainty Solution: Men higher in E Assertiveness and dominance help men to seek new relationships and to monitor their current partner (to prevent infidelity) Both Sexes Adaptive Problem: Finding Food No differences in OE Unconventionality helps both sexes to find new locations for food