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

Cognitive sex differences are influenced by social and
biological factors; for instance, studies have found the
behavioural assimilation to gender stereotypes to be moderated
by variation in sex hormones. This project aims to investigate
the psychological, hormonal and neural mechanisms underlying
the effect of gender stereotypes and stress on cognitive sex
differences. Based on previous work, I predict that a range of
biological, psychological and social factors will interact to
moderate the impact of gender priming, and stress, on men's
and women's cognitive performance. Specifically, drawing
directly on social psychological work in the stereotype threat
domain, it is hypothesised that men will experience stereotype
'boost' (mediated by increased testosterone levels) in a
stressful situation, while women will be more susceptible to
stereotype threat (mediated by increased cortisol levels). In
each of my studies 400 participants (200 women) will be divided
in 3 groups and perform a battery of gender-sensitive cognitive
tasks, including mental rotation and verbal memory. Saliva
samples will be taken before and after testing for the analysis of
cortisol and testosterone levels. Experimental groups will be
gender-primed before cognitive testing with a questionnaire (vs.
a control group who will complete a gender-neutral
questionnaire). Psychosocial stress will be induced with the
Trier Social Stress Test in the experimental group, while the
control group will undergo a waiting period of the same
duration. Participants will be informed of cognitive sex
differences and the effects of stereotype threat before cognitive
testing. The results will have direct relevance for the
understanding of cognitive sex differences with consequent
implications for educational practice, gender equality and the
STEM debate.