A study of gender differences in autobiographical memory: Broken down by age and sex

Data from 40 older adults who produced autobiographical memories to word cu es and to the request to list five important memories, and data from 60 old er adults who answered factual multiple-choice questions for events spread across their lives, were analyzed for gender differences. In spite of consi derable statistical power, there were no gender differences in the distribu tion of autobiographical memories over the lifespan, in the distribution of important memories, in various ratings provided to these memories, or in t he distribution of knowledge for events. The only gender difference found w as that men performed better on factual questions about current events and baseball. Thus, counter to what might be expected from Darwinian theory and some behavioral data, gender differences were minimal.