Handbook of Gender Research in Psychology: Volume 2: Gender Research in Social and Applied Psychology - Hardcover

Donald R. McCreary and Joan C. Chrisler The Development of Gender Studies in Psychology Studies of sex differences are as old as the ?eld of psychology, and they have been conducted in every sub?eld of the discipline. There are probably many reasons for the popularity of these studies, but three reasons seem to be most prominent. First, social psychological studies of person perception show that sex is especially salient in social groups. It is the ?rst thing people notice about others, and it is one of the things we remember best (Fiske, Haslam, & Fiske, 1991; Stangor, Lynch, Duan, & Glass, 1992). For example, people may not remember who uttered a witty remark, but they are likely to remember whether the quip came from a woman or a man. Second, many people hold ?rm beliefs that aspects of physiology suit men and women for particular social roles. Men’s greater upper body strength makes them better candidates for manual labor, and their greater height gives the impression that they would make good leaders (i. e. , people we look up to). Women’s reproductive capacity and the caretaking tasks (e. g. , breastfeeding, baby minding) that accompany it make them seem suitable for other roles that require gentleness and nurturance. Third, the logic that underlies hypothesis testing in the sciences is focused on difference. Researchers design their studies with the hope that they can reject the null hypothesis that experimental groups do not differ.

The study of gender and gender roles has made significant advances since the 1960s, and this is particularly evident in the areas of social and applied psychology. Volume 2 of the Handbook of Gender Research in Psychology focuses on these aspects of psychology, acknowledging the vitality of the field and reviewing theories and findings from across the specialties, including many outside traditional areas of gender research.

The book’s major goals―better communication between researchers, identification and addressing of knowledge gaps, elimination of bias in research and treatment―are exemplified in a series of chapters that inform readers about the current state of gender research. Authors discuss topics such as the ongoing gender issues in personality assessment, the role of gender in developing and maintaining relationships, and controversies such as whether a male practitioner can be a feminist therapist and whether the concept of gender identity disorder is outdated.

Volume 2 of the Handbook of Gender Research in Psychology covers these critical areas:

• Personality and personality testing
• Abnormal and clinical psychology, including gendered aspects of depression, body image, and eating disorders
• Psychotherapy with women, men, couples, and families
• Social psychology, including intimate relationships, group behavior, and gender prejudice
• Work, the workplace, and leadership
• Health care and health behaviors
• Special topics, from the media to the military

Blending the challenging with the accessible, Handbook of Gender Research in Psychology: Gender Research in Social and Applied Psychology is a reference of the first order for researchers, a practice-enhancing resource for clinical psychologists and other therapists, and an exceedingly useful text for the professor or graduate student.