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Male recognition bias in sex assignment based on visual stimuli
Stefano Federici1,2, Alessandro Lepri3, Silvia Bacci4
1Department of Philosophy, Social and Human Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza G. Ermini 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy. stefano.federici@unipg.it.
Scientific Reports
|May 17, 2022
Summary
People are biased toward attributing male sex, especially when male genitalia are visible. This study confirmed a male sex attribution bias in adults, with faster responses to masculine stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Sex and Gender Studies
Background:
- Previous research indicates a bias in sex attribution, favoring male identification.
- This male attribution bias is amplified when male sexual characteristics, particularly a penis, are visible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate and extend previous findings on sex/gender attribution.
- To investigate the influence of visible sexual characteristics on sex attribution and response times.
- To conduct a cross-cultural comparison of sex attribution biases.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Sex/Gender Attribution Test for Adult (SGAT-A) with digitally morphed realistic images.
- Assessed sex attribution and response times in 1706 young adult participants.
- Included a cross-cultural comparison with young adult Chinese students.
Main Results:
- Findings substantially reconfirmed previous studies on sex attribution bias.
- Male external genitalia significantly increased the odds of male sex attribution (odds ratio 5.688 vs. 1.823 for female genitalia).
- Faster response times were recorded for stimuli perceived as masculine.
Conclusions:
- The study provides robust evidence for a male sex attribution bias.
- Visible male genitalia strongly influence sex/gender perception, overriding other cues.
- Both evolutionary and cultural factors likely contribute to this observed bias.
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