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Cognitive Sex/Gender Differences and the Beliefs in Own Spatial Abilities
Linda Arrighi1, Anna A Matejko2, Markus Hausmann2
1Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK. linda.arrighi@durham.ac.uk.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|February 11, 2026
Summary
Feedback influences spatial skills and self-perceptions differently based on accuracy and type. Positive or negative feedback impacts performance, but only when it
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Sex/gender differences in spatial cognition are well-established, particularly the male advantage on the Mental Rotations Test (MRT).
- Individual beliefs about spatial abilities, including spatial anxiety, self-efficacy, and self-confidence, are increasingly recognized as crucial factors.
- Previous research has not directly manipulated self-perceptions to determine their causal effect on spatial cognitive performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if randomized normative feedback can alter spatial self-perceptions (anxiety, self-efficacy, self-confidence).
- To assess the causal impact of manipulated self-perceptions on performance in the Mental Rotations Test (MRT).
- To examine potential sex/gender differences in the response to feedback and its effect on spatial cognition.
Main Methods:
- Participants (n=462; 98 men, 364 women) completed two MRT sets.
- Random assignment to receive positive, negative, or no feedback after the first MRT set.
- Measurement of spatial self-perceptions before and after feedback delivery.
Main Results:
- Feedback significantly influenced self-perceptions across all groups, with women more prone to decreased self-perceptions.
- Only accurate feedback (false positive and true negative) affected MRT performance.
- Positive feedback's benefit was mediated by increased self-confidence, while negative feedback's benefit was independent of self-perception changes.
Conclusions:
- Normative feedback can modulate spatial self-perceptions and cognitive performance.
- The mechanisms through which feedback impacts performance differ based on feedback accuracy and valence.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between feedback, self-perception, and spatial task performance, with potential sex/gender differences in self-perception adjustment.
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