Evolutionary Neuroandrogenic Theory and Universal Gender Differences in Cognition and Behavior

Abstract

A theory is proposed that predicts the existence of numerous gender differences in cognition and behavior. The basis for these expectations is the single assumption that females have evolved tendencies to form long term sociosexual alliances with a competent resource provisioner. This assumption is teamed with evidence that males are actually a variant on the female sex with brains masculinized in ways that help them respond to female mating preferences. To orchestrate male responses to female biases in mates, the theory asserts that androgens (male sex hormones) have two main effects on human brain functioning. One is a diminished sensitivity to most environmental stimuli. The other involves shifting cognitive functioning away from the left hemisphere toward a more even and task-specialized hemispheric distribution. Many of the cognitive and behavioral differences between males and females predicted by the theory are described.

Evolutionary Psychology and Feminism

“…Smith and her colleagues's study is an empirical test of the Bassett et al (2001) hypothesis that butch lesbians psychologically resemble heterosexual men and femme lesbians resemble heterosexual women due to in utero hormone exposure. This hypothesis is properly considered a proximate theory of early exposure to specific hormones (see Ellis 2011, for a detailed theory of hormone exposure in utero). Whatever the merits of the Smith and colleagues study, it does not have direct bearing on the metatheoretical paradigm of evolutionary psychology, or what they term "evolutionary psychology theory.…”

Feminism and the Evolution of Sex Differences and Similarities

“…Although evolutionary psychologists do not maintain that sex differences are invariant, they emphasize a universal psychology and the different innate natures of men and women, especially in domains linked to sexual selection theory (e.g., Geary 2009;Low 2000). In this Special Issue, Ellis (2011) states this position very clearly, as does Hannagan (2011) in her review of Geary's (2009) textbook.…”

“…As argued by Lickliter and Honeycutt (2003), if human behavior is largely an expression of evolved genetic programs, then evidence for this theory ultimately rests on a plausible genetic account, accompanied by evidence concerning associated hormonal processes and neural structures. Ellis (2011) attempts to provide such an account in this Special Issue by arguing that the higher levels of testosterone that males experience both prenatally and in the early postnatal period organize their brains to favor certain sex differences in cognition and behavior (e.g., competitiveness). Although this brain androgenization hypothesis is widely accepted by evolutionary psychologists, careful probing of its empirical support has found it to be far weaker than generally assumed (see Fine 2010; Jordan-Young 2010).…”

“…Evolutionary psychologists then generalize from these sexual strategies to predict sex differences in a wide range of personality attributes and behavioral tendencies (e.g., risk-taking, aggression, dominance, nurturance). In this Special Issue, Ellis (2011) presents one version of this theory by postulating a mediating process involving prenatal and early postnatal androgenization of male brains.…”

Feminism and Evolutionary Psychology: Allies, Adversaries, or Both? An Introduction to a Special Issue

“…Men desired physical risk taking in female partners both in the short-term and long-term. Ellis (2011) introduces a new theory, Evolutionary Neuroadrogenic Theory (ENA), based on evolutionarygenetics factors and neurology and endocrinology. ENA is based on the assumption that females have evolved to seek a mate who is a competent resource provider, and males have brains that have masculinized to respond to female mating preferences.…”