Folk Theories about Sex and Race Differences

Abstract

In a study assessing the nature of folk theories about the causes of sex and race differences and correlates of these theories, 464 undergraduates completed questionnaires concerning (a) causes of sex and race differences (e.g., socialization, opportunities, and biological factors), (b) the ease of eliminating differences, (c) perceptions of variability within and between the sexes, (d) intolerance of ambiguity, and (e) values concerning research on sex differences. Folk theories are similar for sex and race: Both social and biological factors are believed to cause differences, but social factors are considered more influential. Folk theories related to how the sexes were perceived. The more biology was believed to cause sex differences, the more the sexes were seen to differ. Folk theories were weakly correlated with intolerance of ambiguity. Students' values indicated that they believe it is important to detect and report sex differences even if errors occur because nonexistent sex differences are falsely reported.