Sheri A. Berenbaum, Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University

Gender plays a key role in the lives of children and adults, and males and females differ in some important ways. Although scientists have generally focused on the social origins of psychological sex differences, there is increasing evidence for the importance of biology. Much of this evidence comes from females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), who are exposed to atypical levels of sex hormones during prenatal development. Compared to unexposed females, females with CAH are more interested in male-typical activities, are less interested in babies, and have higher spatial ability, but do not differ in core gender identity. These data confirm studies in nonhuman species showing that sex hormones play a role in producing some of the differences between the sexes. Important questions concern the mechanisms whereby hormones influence behavior and what these findings mean for social policy: How does the brain change in response to high levels of androgen? How do hormones alter a child’s selection and interpretation of the social environment, particularly those aspects related to sex? What is the relevance of these findings for understanding the differential representation of men and women in different careers?