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Sex Differences in 2D:4D Ratios, Aggression, and Spatial/Verbal Abilities
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by Patrick Cooper, Robert Matchock - The Pennsylvania State University-Altoona Campus
Categories: Gender | Physiological | Emotion
The 2D:4D (second to fourth digit) ratio is thought to be a measure of prenatal testosterone exposure and is associated with traits such as aggression, sexual tendencies, and verbal/spatial intelligence. Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA) refers to deviation from bilateral symmetry caused by environmental problems during ontogeny. This study examined the relation among these factors. College students (N = 143) completed spatial and verbal fluency tests as well as aggression and sexual history questionnaires. Morphological measures of ears, ankles, and digit lengths were taken. The results indicate that 2D:4D ratios were sexually dimorphic with men having significantly lower ratios and higher spatial and aggression scores. Pearson correlations indicated that 2D:4D ratios were negatively correlated with physical aggression. The left hand ratios (L2D:4D) were negatively associated with aggression in women. Physical aggression and Total aggression were positively associated with spatial ability for men, but negatively associated with spatial ability for women. There were no sex differences for FA scores, verbal scores, and number of sexual partners. The 2D:4D ratios are discussed in terms of prenatal testosterone exposure.
Summer 2010 | Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research (Vol. 15, No. 2, p. 72), published by Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology (Chattanooga, TN). Copyright, 2010, Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. All rights reserved.