Video Lecture: Sex, Gender, and Evolutionary Psychology (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on sex, gender, nurture vs. nature, evolutionary theory, and related ideas.

Sex

Biological category based on reproductive biology (eggs vs. sperm).

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and identities associated with being male or female; distinct from biological sex.

Gender role

Culturally prescribed expectations for how men and women should behave.

Androgynous

Displaying relatively equal levels of traditional masculine and feminine traits.

Nurture perspective (sociocultural)

View that gender differences arise from social norms and cultural practices rather than biology.

Nurture assumption

Idea that parents are the main influence on children's development, though peers can be equally or more influential.

Peer influence

Impact of peers on attitudes, behaviors, and gender development.

Cross-cultural variation in gender differences

Degree of gender differences varies across cultures; magnitude is not universal (e.g., aggression differences differ by culture).

Evolutionary perspective

View that gender differences arise from adaptations shaped by natural selection to maximize survival and reproduction.

Natural selection

Darwinian process where genes that promote survival and reproduction become more common over generations.

Parental investment theory

Idea that reproduction costs differ by sex (eggs are costly); this shapes mating strategies and parental involvement.

Parental investment

Time and energy a parent spends to raise offspring; typically higher for females in many species.

Sexual strategies (theory)

Patterns of mating behavior; in many studies, men emphasize searching for mating opportunities, women emphasize resources and commitment.

Empathy (gender differences)

Women are often reported to exhibit greater empathy and social connectedness.

Aggression and dominance (gender differences)

Men more often display physical aggression and dominance in competitive contexts; pattern varies culturally.

Incest taboo

Cultural prohibition against sexual relations with close relatives; environment can influence perceptions of familial attraction.

Epigenetics

Environmental factors that can turn genes on or off, affecting gene expression across generations.

Nature vs. nurture (false dichotomy)

Belief that biology and culture interact; behavior results from both, not from one side alone.

Naturalistic fallacy

Mistaken idea that what is natural is inherently good or moral; evolution does not dictate ethics.

Transgender and gender identity

Individuals whose gender identity may differ from their sex assigned at birth; transitions reflect interplay of biology and social roles.

Interactionist perspective

Biology and culture interact to shape behavior; brain development occurs in social context and norms influence behavior.