Participant and word gender in age of acquisition effects: The role of gender socialization

Sereno, S.C. and O'Donnell, P.J. (2009) Participant and word gender in age of acquisition effects: The role of gender socialization. Sex Roles, 61(7-8), pp. 510-518. (doi: 10.1007/s11199-009-9649-x)

Abstract

The age of acquisition (AoA) effect represents the processing advantage for developmentally earlier-acquired words. An initial norming study identified early and late AoA words having either a strong female-oriented (e.g., flute) or male-oriented (e.g., cigar) semantic bias. Forty-seven female and 45 male Scottish university students participated in a lexical decision task using 100 early and late AoA female- and male-oriented words. Reaction time data showed significant AoA effects for both females and males across both female- and male-oriented words, with faster responses to earlier than later acquired words. Females, however, took longer to respond to male-oriented words, particularly late AoA ones. Males demonstrated no effect of semantic gender. The pattern of effects is consistent with differential gender role socialization.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sereno, Dr Sara and O'Donnell, Professor Patrick
• Authors: Sereno, S.C., and O'Donnell, P.J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Sex Roles
• ISSN: 0360-0025
• ISSN (Online): 1573-2762