Interactive Effects of Sex Hormones, Psychosocial Stress and Self-Efficacy on Cognitive Sex Differences

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Cognitive sex differences are influenced by social andbiological factors; for instance, studies have found thebehavioural assimilation to gender stereotypes to be moderatedby variation in sex hormones. This project aims to investigatethe psychological, hormonal and neural mechanisms underlyingthe effect of gender stereotypes and stress on cognitive sexdifferences. Based on previous work, I predict that a range ofbiological, psychological and social factors will interact tomoderate the impact of gender priming, and stress, on men'sand women's cognitive performance. Specifically, drawingdirectly on social psychological work in the stereotype threatdomain, it is hypothesised that men will experience stereotype'boost' (mediated by increased testosterone levels) in astressful situation, while women will be more susceptible tostereotype threat (mediated by increased cortisol levels). Ineach of my studies 400 participants (200 women) will be dividedin 3 groups and perform a battery of gender-sensitive cognitivetasks, including mental rotation and verbal memory. Salivasamples will be taken before and after testing for the analysis ofcortisol and testosterone levels. Experimental groups will begender-primed before cognitive testing with a questionnaire (vs.a control group who will complete a gender-neutralquestionnaire). Psychosocial stress will be induced with theTrier Social Stress Test in the experimental group, while thecontrol group will undergo a waiting period of the sameduration. Participants will be informed of cognitive sexdifferences and the effects of stereotype threat before cognitivetesting. The results will have direct relevance for theunderstanding of cognitive sex differences with consequentimplications for educational practice, gender equality and theSTEM debate.