Sex differences in visual recognition memory: support for a sex-related difference in attention in adults and children.
The selectivity hypothesis of Meyers-Levy (1989) proposes that cognitive sex differences reflect underlying differences in information processing between males and females. Males are considered to be more likely to organize information in a self-related manner, whereas females are more likely to adopt a comprehensive approach to information processing. We tested this hypothesis in children (10-15 years) and adults using recognition memory tasks. Tests were devised which employed male-oriented objects, female oriented objects, or random objects. In both the child and adult samples, females performed significantly better than males on tests using random and female-oriented objects. Males performed at the level of females only when tested for recognition of male-oriented objects. These results demonstrate that this sex difference is present prior to puberty and support the concept of sex differences in information processing.
McGivern
R F
RF
San Diego State University, CA, USA. McGivern@sunstroke.sdsu.edu
Huston
J P
JP
Byrd
D
D
King
T
T
Siegle
G J
GJ
Reilly
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011897:Random Allocation; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D014796:Visual Perception