Titre du document / Document title

Sex-related différences in general intelligence g, brain size, and social status

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

NYBORG Helmuth ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Department of Psychology, Research Unit for Differential Psychology, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus, DANEMARK

Résumé / Abstract

The question of a sex difference in intelligence has long divided the experts. IQ researchers sum standardized subtest scores to calculate intelligence in general, and find that males outscore females by about 3.8 points, whereas factor analysts derive the g factor scores from intertest-correlations and find no consistent sex differences in general intelligence. The latter finding is puzzling, as males have larger average brains than females, and brain size correlates .30-.45 with g (and IQ). Males thus ought to score a higher g than females. The present study addressed this paradox by testing four hypotheses: (1) Inadequate analyses explain why researchers get inconsistent results, (2) The proper method will identify a male g lead, (3) The larger male brain explains the male g lead, (4) The higher male g average and wider distribution transform into an exponentially increased male-female ratio at the high end of the g distribution, and this largely explains male dominance in society. All four hypotheses obtained support and explain in part why relatively few males dominate the upper strata in all known societies. The confirmation of hypothesis 3 suggests that the brain size-intelligence-dominance link may be partly biological.

Revue / Journal Title

Personality and individual differences   ISSN 0191-8869   CODEN PEIDD9 

Source / Source

2005, vol. 39, n^o3, pp. 497-509 [13 page(s) (article)] (1 p.1/4)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Elsevier, Oxford, ROYAUME-UNI  (1980) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Central nervous system ; Human ; Intellectual ability ; Intelligence g factor ; Volumetric analysis ; Social status ; Encephalon ; Sexual dimorphism ; Sex ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Système nerveux central ; Homme ; Aptitude intellectuelle ; Facteur g intelligence ; Volumétrie ; Statut social ; Encéphale ; Dimorphisme sexuel ; Sexe ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Sistema nervioso central ; Hombre ; Aptitud intelectual ; Factor g inteligencia ; Volumetría ; Situación social ; Encéfalo ; Dimorfismo sexual ; Sexo ;

Mots-clés d'auteur / Author Keywords

Sex-related differences ; General intelligence ; g ; Brain size ; Social status ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 18816, 35400013795613.0010