Self-estimates of intelligence: culture and gender difference in self and other estimates of both general (g) and multiple intelligences

This review paper examines two related areas of research: studies dating ba ck over 50 years on lay theories of the nature and measurement of intellige nce, and more recent research on sex and culture differences on self-estima ted intelligence. The latter focus is on the nearly 20 published papers on estimated intelligence. Studies have shown consistent sex differences with males rating themselves higher than females. There are also consistent gene rational effects with adult participants believing around a half standard d eviation difference in intelligence with their grandparents being least int elligent and children most. Self-estimated and psychometric intelligence on ly correlates weakly, Studies looking at self and other estimates of multip le intelligence indicated that participants seemed to believe that intellig ence was male normative in that it was specifically those types of intellig ence (mathematical and spatial) that most differentiated between the sexes that were themselves more predictive of general overall intelligence. Impli cations of these findings for intelligence testing are considered. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.