The Psychology of Sex and Gender Test Bank 2nd Edition |
Bosson, Buckner, Vandello EXAM with Questions and
Answers/Plus a Rationale Updated 2026 A+/Instant
Download PDF
EXAM COVERAGE - 1. Theories of Gender Development - 2. Biological
and Evolutionary Perspectives - 3. Gender Stereotypes and Ambivalent
Sexism - 4. Intersectionality and Gender Identity - 5. Cognitive Abilities
and Achievement - 6. Emotion, Communication, and Language - 7.
Close Relationships and Sexuality - 8. Work, Family, and Leadership -
9. Physical Health and the Morbidity-Mortality Paradox - 10. Mental
Health and Psychological Disorders
1. A workplace implements a new policy aimed at increasing female representation in leadership.
Male employees express significant opposition, claiming the policy fundamentally threatens the
meritocratic nature of the company and undermines the natural hierarchy of business leadership.
According to social dominance theory, which psychological mechanism best explains this
reaction?
A. The male employees are exhibiting high levels of benevolent sexism, attempting to protect
female colleagues from the stress of leadership roles.
B. The male employees are utilizing hierarchy-enhancing legitimizing myths to maintain
their dominant structural position and justify existing gender inequalities.
C. The male employees are demonstrating precarious manhood by attempting to prove their
masculinity through workplace aggression and policy opposition.
D. The male employees are experiencing cognitive dissonance due to the conflict between social
learning theories of gender and the new workplace mandates.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Social dominance theory posits that members of dominant groups (in this case, men)
endorse hierarchy-enhancing legitimizing myths—such as the belief in strict meritocracy that
happens to favor them—to justify and maintain their superior status and resources. Option A is
incorrect because the reaction is hostile and defensive, not protective. Option C is incorrect as
this scenario describes a structural defense of power rather than an interpersonal demonstration
of physical or social risk-taking characteristic of precarious manhood. Option D incorrectly
applies cognitive dissonance to a situation that is fundamentally about intergroup power
dynamics.
,2. During an experiment, male and female participants are asked to complete a mental rotation task.
In the first condition, participants are told the task measures spatial intelligence, which is heavily
linked to male evolutionary advantages. In the second condition, participants are told the task
measures visual processing skills, which are linked to complex problem-solving regardless of
gender. How are the performance outcomes most likely to differ between the two conditions?
A. Women will perform equally poorly in both conditions due to fixed biological differences in
spatial reasoning abilities.
B. Men will underperform in the second condition because the removal of the evolutionary
framing decreases their intrinsic motivation.
C. Women's performance will significantly improve in the second condition compared to
the first condition due to the alleviation of stereotype threat.
D. Both men and women will perform worse in the second condition due to cognitive overload
caused by the complex problem-solving framing.
CORRECT ANSWER : C
Rationale: Stereotype threat occurs when individuals feel they are at risk of confirming negative
stereotypes about their social group, which consumes working memory and depresses
performance. The first condition triggers stereotype threat for women, while the second removes
it, allowing women to perform closer to their actual ability. Option A ignores the situational
modifiers of cognitive performance documented in gender research. Option B is incorrect
because removing a stereotype does not inherently decrease dominant group performance.
Option D is incorrect because the framing in the second condition is standard and does not
induce cognitive overload.
3. A therapist is working with a transgender man who is experiencing significant distress. The
client reports that while his family uses his correct pronouns, they constantly emphasize that his
transition is a "brave response to childhood trauma" rather than an authentic expression of his
gender identity. What specific phenomenon is the family engaging in, and how does it relate to
minority stress theory?
A. The family is engaging in hostile transphobia, which acts as a distal stressor by creating an
objectively dangerous environment for the client.
B. The family is demonstrating gender essentialism, which operates as a proximal stressor by
forcing the client to internalize biological deterministic views.
C. The family is committing a microinvalidation, which functions as a distal minority
stressor that accumulates to negatively impact the client's mental health.
D. The family is utilizing gender dysphoria projection, acting as a proximal stressor that
primarily exacerbates the client's physical health disparities.
, CORRECT ANSWER : C
Rationale: Microinvalidations are communications that subtly exclude, negate, or nullify the
psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a marginalized person. By attributing
his gender identity to trauma, the family invalidates his authentic self. In minority stress theory,
interpersonal discrimination and microaggressions are considered distal (external) stressors,
making Option C correct. Option A is incorrect because the behavior is subtle rather than
overtly hostile. Option B misidentifies the stressor type; proximal stressors are internal (e.g.,
internalized transphobia, concealment). Option D is a fabricated psychological term.
4. A developmental psychologist observes children at play. A young boy falls and scrapes his knee.
He briefly looks as though he might cry, but then aggressively punches the ground, yells in
anger, and runs off. A young girl falls similarly, cries openly, and seeks comfort from a teacher.
Which framework best explains the boy's substitution of anger for sadness?
A. Evolutionary psychology, which suggests boys are genetically predisposed to produce more
cortisol, overriding tear production.
B. Display rules, which are culturally specific norms dictating that boys should mask
vulnerable emotions like sadness and replace them with dominant emotions like anger.
C. Cognitive developmental theory, which argues that boys develop emotional recognition
schemas later than girls, leading to behavioral confusion.
D. The biosocial constructionist model, which posits that early exposure to fetal testosterone
permanently suppresses the neural pathways responsible for affiliative crying.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Display rules are cultural guidelines regarding how, when, and where emotions
should be expressed. In many Western cultures, boys are socialized to mask vulnerable emotions
(sadness, fear) and replace them with externalizing or dominant emotions (anger), making
Option B correct. Option A is biologically inaccurate. Option C misapplies cognitive schemas,
as the boy is recognizing the emotion but choosing to mask it. Option D overstates the role of
fetal testosterone, ignoring the profound impact of early childhood socialization on emotional
expression.
5. A researcher is analyzing global health data and notes that women, on average, live longer than
men across almost all societies, yet women report higher rates of chronic illness, psychological
distress, and disability throughout their lives. What is the standard academic term for this
epidemiological phenomenon?
A. The biopsychosocial gender inversion.
B. The female survival advantage hypothesis.
, C. The morbidity-mortality paradox.
D. The intersectional health disparity model.
CORRECT ANSWER : C
Rationale: The morbidity-mortality paradox refers to the robust epidemiological finding that
although women have lower mortality rates and longer life expectancies than men, they
experience higher rates of morbidity (illness, disability, and poor health). Option C accurately
identifies this specific term. Option A is a fabricated term. Option B addresses only half of the
phenomenon (survival) while ignoring the chronic illness aspect. Option D is a valid concept in
general sociology but is not the specific term used by gender and health researchers to describe
this exact statistical contradiction.
6. According to the concept of ambivalent sexism, how do hostile sexism (HS) and benevolent
sexism (BS) interact to maintain the gender hierarchy?
A. They represent two ends of a single continuum; as a society becomes more modern, hostile
sexism decreases while benevolent sexism simultaneously increases to replace it.
B. They function as a complementary system of rewards and punishments; BS rewards
women who conform to traditional gender roles, while HS punishes women who violate
them.
C. They operate independently; HS is used primarily by men of lower socioeconomic status,
whereas BS is exclusively utilized by upper-class men to display chivalry.
D. They target different groups of people; HS is directed solely at out-group women (e.g.,
immigrants), while BS is directed solely at in-group women (e.g., family members).
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Peter Glick and Susan Fiske's ambivalent sexism theory demonstrates that HS and BS
work together as a "carrot and stick" mechanism to uphold patriarchy. BS rewards women who
adhere to traditional, subordinate roles with protection and affection, while HS punishes
feminist, career-oriented, or non-traditional women with aggression and hostility. Option A is
incorrect because HS and BS are positively correlated, not inversely related. Options C and D
introduce socioeconomic and in-group/out-group variables that do not define the core
mechanics of ambivalent sexism.
7. A heterosexual married couple is participating in a study on household labor division. Both
partners work 40 hours a week outside the home. However, the wife is primarily responsible for
noticing when groceries run low, deciding what to make for dinner, scheduling doctor's
appointments, and remembering family birthdays, even though the husband willingly completes
tasks when asked. What specific type of labor is the wife disproportionately bearing?
Bosson, Buckner, Vandello EXAM with Questions and
Answers/Plus a Rationale Updated 2026 A+/Instant
Download PDF
EXAM COVERAGE - 1. Theories of Gender Development - 2. Biological
and Evolutionary Perspectives - 3. Gender Stereotypes and Ambivalent
Sexism - 4. Intersectionality and Gender Identity - 5. Cognitive Abilities
and Achievement - 6. Emotion, Communication, and Language - 7.
Close Relationships and Sexuality - 8. Work, Family, and Leadership -
9. Physical Health and the Morbidity-Mortality Paradox - 10. Mental
Health and Psychological Disorders
1. A workplace implements a new policy aimed at increasing female representation in leadership.
Male employees express significant opposition, claiming the policy fundamentally threatens the
meritocratic nature of the company and undermines the natural hierarchy of business leadership.
According to social dominance theory, which psychological mechanism best explains this
reaction?
A. The male employees are exhibiting high levels of benevolent sexism, attempting to protect
female colleagues from the stress of leadership roles.
B. The male employees are utilizing hierarchy-enhancing legitimizing myths to maintain
their dominant structural position and justify existing gender inequalities.
C. The male employees are demonstrating precarious manhood by attempting to prove their
masculinity through workplace aggression and policy opposition.
D. The male employees are experiencing cognitive dissonance due to the conflict between social
learning theories of gender and the new workplace mandates.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Social dominance theory posits that members of dominant groups (in this case, men)
endorse hierarchy-enhancing legitimizing myths—such as the belief in strict meritocracy that
happens to favor them—to justify and maintain their superior status and resources. Option A is
incorrect because the reaction is hostile and defensive, not protective. Option C is incorrect as
this scenario describes a structural defense of power rather than an interpersonal demonstration
of physical or social risk-taking characteristic of precarious manhood. Option D incorrectly
applies cognitive dissonance to a situation that is fundamentally about intergroup power
dynamics.
,2. During an experiment, male and female participants are asked to complete a mental rotation task.
In the first condition, participants are told the task measures spatial intelligence, which is heavily
linked to male evolutionary advantages. In the second condition, participants are told the task
measures visual processing skills, which are linked to complex problem-solving regardless of
gender. How are the performance outcomes most likely to differ between the two conditions?
A. Women will perform equally poorly in both conditions due to fixed biological differences in
spatial reasoning abilities.
B. Men will underperform in the second condition because the removal of the evolutionary
framing decreases their intrinsic motivation.
C. Women's performance will significantly improve in the second condition compared to
the first condition due to the alleviation of stereotype threat.
D. Both men and women will perform worse in the second condition due to cognitive overload
caused by the complex problem-solving framing.
CORRECT ANSWER : C
Rationale: Stereotype threat occurs when individuals feel they are at risk of confirming negative
stereotypes about their social group, which consumes working memory and depresses
performance. The first condition triggers stereotype threat for women, while the second removes
it, allowing women to perform closer to their actual ability. Option A ignores the situational
modifiers of cognitive performance documented in gender research. Option B is incorrect
because removing a stereotype does not inherently decrease dominant group performance.
Option D is incorrect because the framing in the second condition is standard and does not
induce cognitive overload.
3. A therapist is working with a transgender man who is experiencing significant distress. The
client reports that while his family uses his correct pronouns, they constantly emphasize that his
transition is a "brave response to childhood trauma" rather than an authentic expression of his
gender identity. What specific phenomenon is the family engaging in, and how does it relate to
minority stress theory?
A. The family is engaging in hostile transphobia, which acts as a distal stressor by creating an
objectively dangerous environment for the client.
B. The family is demonstrating gender essentialism, which operates as a proximal stressor by
forcing the client to internalize biological deterministic views.
C. The family is committing a microinvalidation, which functions as a distal minority
stressor that accumulates to negatively impact the client's mental health.
D. The family is utilizing gender dysphoria projection, acting as a proximal stressor that
primarily exacerbates the client's physical health disparities.
, CORRECT ANSWER : C
Rationale: Microinvalidations are communications that subtly exclude, negate, or nullify the
psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a marginalized person. By attributing
his gender identity to trauma, the family invalidates his authentic self. In minority stress theory,
interpersonal discrimination and microaggressions are considered distal (external) stressors,
making Option C correct. Option A is incorrect because the behavior is subtle rather than
overtly hostile. Option B misidentifies the stressor type; proximal stressors are internal (e.g.,
internalized transphobia, concealment). Option D is a fabricated psychological term.
4. A developmental psychologist observes children at play. A young boy falls and scrapes his knee.
He briefly looks as though he might cry, but then aggressively punches the ground, yells in
anger, and runs off. A young girl falls similarly, cries openly, and seeks comfort from a teacher.
Which framework best explains the boy's substitution of anger for sadness?
A. Evolutionary psychology, which suggests boys are genetically predisposed to produce more
cortisol, overriding tear production.
B. Display rules, which are culturally specific norms dictating that boys should mask
vulnerable emotions like sadness and replace them with dominant emotions like anger.
C. Cognitive developmental theory, which argues that boys develop emotional recognition
schemas later than girls, leading to behavioral confusion.
D. The biosocial constructionist model, which posits that early exposure to fetal testosterone
permanently suppresses the neural pathways responsible for affiliative crying.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Display rules are cultural guidelines regarding how, when, and where emotions
should be expressed. In many Western cultures, boys are socialized to mask vulnerable emotions
(sadness, fear) and replace them with externalizing or dominant emotions (anger), making
Option B correct. Option A is biologically inaccurate. Option C misapplies cognitive schemas,
as the boy is recognizing the emotion but choosing to mask it. Option D overstates the role of
fetal testosterone, ignoring the profound impact of early childhood socialization on emotional
expression.
5. A researcher is analyzing global health data and notes that women, on average, live longer than
men across almost all societies, yet women report higher rates of chronic illness, psychological
distress, and disability throughout their lives. What is the standard academic term for this
epidemiological phenomenon?
A. The biopsychosocial gender inversion.
B. The female survival advantage hypothesis.
, C. The morbidity-mortality paradox.
D. The intersectional health disparity model.
CORRECT ANSWER : C
Rationale: The morbidity-mortality paradox refers to the robust epidemiological finding that
although women have lower mortality rates and longer life expectancies than men, they
experience higher rates of morbidity (illness, disability, and poor health). Option C accurately
identifies this specific term. Option A is a fabricated term. Option B addresses only half of the
phenomenon (survival) while ignoring the chronic illness aspect. Option D is a valid concept in
general sociology but is not the specific term used by gender and health researchers to describe
this exact statistical contradiction.
6. According to the concept of ambivalent sexism, how do hostile sexism (HS) and benevolent
sexism (BS) interact to maintain the gender hierarchy?
A. They represent two ends of a single continuum; as a society becomes more modern, hostile
sexism decreases while benevolent sexism simultaneously increases to replace it.
B. They function as a complementary system of rewards and punishments; BS rewards
women who conform to traditional gender roles, while HS punishes women who violate
them.
C. They operate independently; HS is used primarily by men of lower socioeconomic status,
whereas BS is exclusively utilized by upper-class men to display chivalry.
D. They target different groups of people; HS is directed solely at out-group women (e.g.,
immigrants), while BS is directed solely at in-group women (e.g., family members).
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Peter Glick and Susan Fiske's ambivalent sexism theory demonstrates that HS and BS
work together as a "carrot and stick" mechanism to uphold patriarchy. BS rewards women who
adhere to traditional, subordinate roles with protection and affection, while HS punishes
feminist, career-oriented, or non-traditional women with aggression and hostility. Option A is
incorrect because HS and BS are positively correlated, not inversely related. Options C and D
introduce socioeconomic and in-group/out-group variables that do not define the core
mechanics of ambivalent sexism.
7. A heterosexual married couple is participating in a study on household labor division. Both
partners work 40 hours a week outside the home. However, the wife is primarily responsible for
noticing when groceries run low, deciding what to make for dinner, scheduling doctor's
appointments, and remembering family birthdays, even though the husband willingly completes
tasks when asked. What specific type of labor is the wife disproportionately bearing?
