1
The Psychology of Women
7th Edition- Margaret W.
Matlin’s Test Bank
Syllabus from Dr. Matlin’s Course 1
Research Project Handout 8
Details About Research Projects 13
Chapter Outlines 18
Test Bank 127
1 Introduction 127
2 Gender Stereotypes and Other Gender Biases 151
3 Infancy and Childhood 171
4 Adolescence 194
5 Gender Comparisons in Cognitive Abilities and
Attitudes About Achievement 213
6 Gender Comparisons in Social and
Personality Characteristics 232
7 Women and Work 248
8 Love Relationships 269
9 Sexuality 288
10 Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood 307
11 Women and Physical Health 324
12 Women and Psychological Health 343
13 Violence Against Women 361
14 Women and Older Adulthood 378
15 Moving Onward . . . 395
Page 1 of 419
, SYLLABUS FROM
DR. MARGARET W. MATLIN’S COURSE
My syllabus changes somewhat from one semester to the next, but the syllabus below is the
version I used in Fall Semester, 2010. (However, the textbook for that course was the 6th edition.)
I think it’s important for a syllabus to include a brief description of the course, as well as the
goals. From the first page of the syllabus, students should be able to understand the general scope
of the course.
You can find several additional syllabi for courses on the Psychology of Women or the
Psychology of Gender on the website for the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (Division 2
of the American Psychological Association): http://teachpsych.org/otrp/syllabi/index.php
Scroll down the list of courses on the right-hand side, and you will find the topic “Women and
Gender.”
Additional note: Psychology of Women Quarterly now includes a “Teaching Section” in each
issue. It features between one and three short articles in each issue, which focus on topics related
to women and gender, such as critical thinking, social class, social justice advocacy. I am the
current editor of this Teaching Section; please email me at , if you have an
idea about a potential article related to this teaching!
On the first day of class, students also receive a description of the Psychology of Women
Research Project, an important component of my course. Later in this document you can find a
description of this project, as well as some details about the project.
1 of 381
,Psychology of Women Dr. Margaret W. Matlin
Psychology 308 Department of Psychology
Fall, 2010 SUNY Geneseo
SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this course is to examine the lives of girls and women. We will include topics
such as gender stereotypes, the development of gender roles, gender comparisons, women and
work, love relationships, sexuality, women’s physical and mental health, violence against
women, and women in later adulthood. Students who take this course should acquire a better
understanding about girls, women, and gender in North America.
As the course instructor, I’m hopeful that each of you will work toward the following goals:
1. To understand the relevant information about the lives of girls and women—as well as
gender—with a particular emphasis on the complexity of the issues.
2. To develop critical-thinking skills, so that you can evaluate both the research in professional
journals and information described in the popular media.
3. To know how to design your own psychology research project, to conduct the research, and
to write an appropriately professional summary of your own research, emphasizing the
potential methodological flaws and strengths in your study.
4. To explore your own ideas and attitudes about gender, appreciating that we do not need to be
constrained by our culture’s traditional gender roles.
5. To appreciate the inequalities that many individuals face, based on social categories other
than gender. These categories include age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion,
social class, and country of residence. We will also consider some information about
inequalities in other cultures, outside North America.
READING MATERIALS
Our textbook for the course will be:
Matlin, M. W. (2008). The psychology of women (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage/Wadsworth.
You’ll need to use this 6th edition, which has a brown and gold cover and a photo of a girl, a
young woman, and an older woman. This edition has more than 1,400 new references that were
published since the earlier 5th edition, as well as many concepts and research-based studies that
were not discussed in the 5th edition. (Do not use the 5th edition, which has a purple cover and a
2 of 381
, photo of three middle-aged women, and do not use any shortened paperback version of the
textbook.)
Your textbook is one I have written, and you’ll need to understand the material in the textbook in
order to do well in the course. You will not be able to achieve this knowledge from a superficial
reading of the chapters. You should master the terminology and concepts in the textbook. During
the lectures and class discussions, I will assume that you are familiar with this information.
However, if any part of the textbook is not clear, please let me know! Then we can discuss that
topic in class!
** You will also receive one journal article, which you will read and analyze for class
discussion. (See below for details.)
OFFICE HOURS
My scheduled office hours are Monday, 1:15-2:15 p.m., Tuesday, 11:30-12:30, and Thursday,
11:30-12:45. I may need to reschedule an occasional office hour on days when other
commitments arise. If my office hours are not convenient, please check with me, and we can
schedule an alternate time! My office is in Sturges, Room 121C (main floor, right-hand side).
I check my e-mail frequently, usually until about 9 p.m. (). Before
contacting me, be sure to check the syllabus and project description to be certain that your
question is not answered there. Please include the term “Psychology of Women” in the subject of
your e-mail message. Also, proofread the message to make sure that your question is clear. This
way, I will not delete your email by mistake, and I can quickly provide you with the most helpful
response!
You can also leave a brief message on my voice mail (5214). I will check my voice-mail
messages several times each week, but not as often as e-mail.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Examinations:
You will have two 75-minute-long exams, as well as a comprehensive final. The format for all
tests will be a combination of essays and multiple-choice questions. Each 75-minute exam will
be worth about 50-55 points, and the final exam (about 2 hours long) will be worth about 75
points. The final exam is cumulative, with an emphasis on the last part of the course.
2. Research Paper:
The independent research paper is described in detail on a second handout, entitled “Psychology
of Women Research Project.” This paper will be worth 55 points. Your preview for your
3 of 381
The Psychology of Women
7th Edition- Margaret W.
Matlin’s Test Bank
Syllabus from Dr. Matlin’s Course 1
Research Project Handout 8
Details About Research Projects 13
Chapter Outlines 18
Test Bank 127
1 Introduction 127
2 Gender Stereotypes and Other Gender Biases 151
3 Infancy and Childhood 171
4 Adolescence 194
5 Gender Comparisons in Cognitive Abilities and
Attitudes About Achievement 213
6 Gender Comparisons in Social and
Personality Characteristics 232
7 Women and Work 248
8 Love Relationships 269
9 Sexuality 288
10 Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood 307
11 Women and Physical Health 324
12 Women and Psychological Health 343
13 Violence Against Women 361
14 Women and Older Adulthood 378
15 Moving Onward . . . 395
Page 1 of 419
, SYLLABUS FROM
DR. MARGARET W. MATLIN’S COURSE
My syllabus changes somewhat from one semester to the next, but the syllabus below is the
version I used in Fall Semester, 2010. (However, the textbook for that course was the 6th edition.)
I think it’s important for a syllabus to include a brief description of the course, as well as the
goals. From the first page of the syllabus, students should be able to understand the general scope
of the course.
You can find several additional syllabi for courses on the Psychology of Women or the
Psychology of Gender on the website for the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (Division 2
of the American Psychological Association): http://teachpsych.org/otrp/syllabi/index.php
Scroll down the list of courses on the right-hand side, and you will find the topic “Women and
Gender.”
Additional note: Psychology of Women Quarterly now includes a “Teaching Section” in each
issue. It features between one and three short articles in each issue, which focus on topics related
to women and gender, such as critical thinking, social class, social justice advocacy. I am the
current editor of this Teaching Section; please email me at , if you have an
idea about a potential article related to this teaching!
On the first day of class, students also receive a description of the Psychology of Women
Research Project, an important component of my course. Later in this document you can find a
description of this project, as well as some details about the project.
1 of 381
,Psychology of Women Dr. Margaret W. Matlin
Psychology 308 Department of Psychology
Fall, 2010 SUNY Geneseo
SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this course is to examine the lives of girls and women. We will include topics
such as gender stereotypes, the development of gender roles, gender comparisons, women and
work, love relationships, sexuality, women’s physical and mental health, violence against
women, and women in later adulthood. Students who take this course should acquire a better
understanding about girls, women, and gender in North America.
As the course instructor, I’m hopeful that each of you will work toward the following goals:
1. To understand the relevant information about the lives of girls and women—as well as
gender—with a particular emphasis on the complexity of the issues.
2. To develop critical-thinking skills, so that you can evaluate both the research in professional
journals and information described in the popular media.
3. To know how to design your own psychology research project, to conduct the research, and
to write an appropriately professional summary of your own research, emphasizing the
potential methodological flaws and strengths in your study.
4. To explore your own ideas and attitudes about gender, appreciating that we do not need to be
constrained by our culture’s traditional gender roles.
5. To appreciate the inequalities that many individuals face, based on social categories other
than gender. These categories include age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion,
social class, and country of residence. We will also consider some information about
inequalities in other cultures, outside North America.
READING MATERIALS
Our textbook for the course will be:
Matlin, M. W. (2008). The psychology of women (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage/Wadsworth.
You’ll need to use this 6th edition, which has a brown and gold cover and a photo of a girl, a
young woman, and an older woman. This edition has more than 1,400 new references that were
published since the earlier 5th edition, as well as many concepts and research-based studies that
were not discussed in the 5th edition. (Do not use the 5th edition, which has a purple cover and a
2 of 381
, photo of three middle-aged women, and do not use any shortened paperback version of the
textbook.)
Your textbook is one I have written, and you’ll need to understand the material in the textbook in
order to do well in the course. You will not be able to achieve this knowledge from a superficial
reading of the chapters. You should master the terminology and concepts in the textbook. During
the lectures and class discussions, I will assume that you are familiar with this information.
However, if any part of the textbook is not clear, please let me know! Then we can discuss that
topic in class!
** You will also receive one journal article, which you will read and analyze for class
discussion. (See below for details.)
OFFICE HOURS
My scheduled office hours are Monday, 1:15-2:15 p.m., Tuesday, 11:30-12:30, and Thursday,
11:30-12:45. I may need to reschedule an occasional office hour on days when other
commitments arise. If my office hours are not convenient, please check with me, and we can
schedule an alternate time! My office is in Sturges, Room 121C (main floor, right-hand side).
I check my e-mail frequently, usually until about 9 p.m. (). Before
contacting me, be sure to check the syllabus and project description to be certain that your
question is not answered there. Please include the term “Psychology of Women” in the subject of
your e-mail message. Also, proofread the message to make sure that your question is clear. This
way, I will not delete your email by mistake, and I can quickly provide you with the most helpful
response!
You can also leave a brief message on my voice mail (5214). I will check my voice-mail
messages several times each week, but not as often as e-mail.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Examinations:
You will have two 75-minute-long exams, as well as a comprehensive final. The format for all
tests will be a combination of essays and multiple-choice questions. Each 75-minute exam will
be worth about 50-55 points, and the final exam (about 2 hours long) will be worth about 75
points. The final exam is cumulative, with an emphasis on the last part of the course.
2. Research Paper:
The independent research paper is described in detail on a second handout, entitled “Psychology
of Women Research Project.” This paper will be worth 55 points. Your preview for your
3 of 381
