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Biological and evolutionary contributions to developmental sex differences.

Jennifer Byrd-Craven¹, David C Geary

¹210 McAlester Hall, Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-2500, USA. jennifer.byrd.craven@okstate.edu

Reproductive Biomedicine Online

|January 18, 2008

Summary

Sex differences in interests and social styles emerge early in development, influenced by evolutionary pressures and shaped by cultural experiences. These early patterns prepare children for adult roles, highlighting the interplay of biology and environment.

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Area of Science:

Developmental Psychology
Evolutionary Psychology
Human Behavior

Background:

Consistent average differences exist between males and females in interests, activity preferences, and social styles.
These differences are observable from infancy through childhood.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize sex differences in human development from infancy to childhood.
To explore the relationship between developmental patterns and human evolutionary history.
To examine the role of sexual selection in the evolution of cognitive and behavioral sex differences.

Main Methods:

Review of existing evidence on sex differences in development.
Consideration of evolutionary psychology principles, including sexual selection.
Analysis of how early predispositions relate to adult roles.

Main Results:

Sex differences in predispositions for activities, social information attention, and social influence methods are evident early in development.
These early differences are linked to evolutionary advantageous psychological traits for males and females.
Developmental experiences and cultural demands influence the elaboration or minimization of these sex differences.

Conclusions:

Sex differences in development have strong biological origins, shaped by evolutionary history.
Early-emerging sex differences prepare children for different adult tasks and roles.
Cultural context plays a significant role in shaping the expression of sex differences throughout development.