think like a man

studies find little gender difference in intelligence tests, but often do in tests of knowledge, such as aptitude tests. researchers now propose the difference may lie in how men and women approach tests:

Beier hypothesizes that women might be more susceptible to a predisposition for anxiety and rumination that might affect their overall test performance. "If such a link is found," she says, "it may be that appropriate training could help overcome these difficulties."

"I believe that the ability to regulate certain emotions is actually a skill that can be developed, as opposed to a hard-wired disposition that cannot change," Beier concludes.

beier suggests that this difference is exogenous, although it appears to be more of a feeling than anything. research already suggests that test anxiety is linked to gender, but the discrepancy in performance on intelligence vs. knowledge tests had not been examined closely.