This study examined the extent to which men and women differ regarding systemizing and construction of cognitive maps. Participants were 214 people (57% women) from João Pessoa (Brazil), with mean age of 29.3 years. They were asked to list the Brazilian Federation Unities (BFUs) and their capitals, to indicate in a sketch map the BFUs, to estimate the distances between capitals, and to answer the systemizing quotient test and demographic questions. Results showed that men and women differ with respect to the number of BFUs-capital correctly listed, and on the systemizing score, with men showing more right answers and being more systemizing than women. Men and women did not differ in locating the BFUs in the map, but men had more correct answers overall. In terms of distance estimation once again men showed better spatial representation than women. These findings indicate the influence of sex and systematizing on the representation of cognitive maps.
cognitive maps; cognitive styles; systemizing; sex
