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The Hunter-Gatherer Theory of Sex Differences in Spatial Abilities: Data from 40 Countries

Archives of Sexual Behavior volume 36, pages 261–268 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

This study used some of the data from the BBC Internet study to assess the universality of sex related spatial competencies, as these are described in the terms of Silverman and Eals’ (1992) hunter-gatherer theory of human spatial sex differences. As predicted, men scored significantly higher than women on a test of three-dimensional mental rotations in all seven ethnic groups and 40 countries used. Close to prediction, women scored significantly higher than men on a test of object location memory in all seven ethnic groups and 35 of the 40 countries. The data were discussed in terms of their implications for research approaches in this area and a paradigm for future studies was proposed, based on the interaction of innate and environmental factors in the ontogenetic development of spatial sex differences.

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Fig. 1

Notes

  1. No data were given for United Arab Emirates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Irwin Silverman

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

    Jean Choi

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Michael Peters

Authors
  1. Irwin Silverman
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  2. Jean Choi
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  3. Michael Peters
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Correspondence to Irwin Silverman.

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Silverman, I., Choi, J. & Peters, M. The Hunter-Gatherer Theory of Sex Differences in Spatial Abilities: Data from 40 Countries. Arch Sex Behav 36, 261–268 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-006-9168-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-006-9168-6

Keywords

  • Sex differences
  • Spatial abilities
  • Evolutionary theory
  • Hunter-gatherer
  • Mental rotations
  • Object location memory