Boys and Girls

1. Boys and Girls Differences and Similarities in IntellectualAbilities

2. Boys & Girls do equally well… • in reasoning and logic • on tasks involving nonverbal creativity • With same group IQs • During middle childhood have similar verbal abilities

3. Girls …. • Have better verbal abilities up to age 3 and after 11 or 12 • Vocalize more and talk earlier • Have fewer problems with reading • Get better grades in school at all ages • Do better with verbal analytical tasks (making words from a set of letters)

4. Boys…. • Are better in mathematical tasks but not until adolescence • Have better spatial abilities, but abilities don’t emerge until adolescence • Do better on analytical tasks involving math or spatial abilities

5. Differences & Similarities in Personality Between Boys and Girls

6. Boys & Girls are similar… • Equally sensitive to people and social stimuli • Show same degree of empathy such as helping someone in distress • Equally fearful, timid, and anxious when actual behavior is observed • Equally motivated to achieve (except in competition where boys exceed girls) • Equal in self-esteem (but for different reasons) • Equally persistent in most tasks

7. Boys…. • Are more aggressive than girls at all ages • Cry more than girls between ages 1 & 6 especially when frustrated • Show more anger and upset behavior than girls between ages 1 & 6 • Appear to be more peer oriented than girls at all ages and spend more time with groups of peers

8. Boys… • May be more active between 1 & 12 when in groups, but not when alone • Are judged to be tougher and more dominant between ages 1 & 12 • In adulthood, men appear to be more dominant than women, but in some situations the reverse is true • Tend to be more susceptible to peer pressure, even in adulthood

9. Girls…. • Between 1 & 6 comply with demand from adults more readily than boys • Tend to spend their time with one or two best friends • Report more fear and anxiety than boys do • Are reported by teachers to be more timid and anxious than boys