28th International Congress of Psychology August 8 ... - U-netSURF

such distal influences impact on gender development are integrated with psychological processes.
From this theoretical perspective, the changing demands at different historical times (e.g.
technological innovations and sociopolitical factors) produce altered proximal influences resulting
from changing conceptions and practices which impact on gender development.
1015.4 Explaining the origins of sex differences in behavior, W. Wood, Texas A&M University,
College Station, Texas, USA
What causes sex differences in human behavior? Origin theories explain men=s and women=s
behavior in terms of ultimate, distal causes, such as biological processes, social structures, and
local ecologies. These theories include evolutionary psychology and our biosocial model. To
evaluate the plausibility of these theories, Wood and Eagly (2002) reviewed the cross-cultural
literature on men=s and women=s behavior in preindustrial societies. Little evidence emerged for
evolutionary psychology assumptions. Instead, the data support a biosocial model in which men=s
size and strength and women=s reproductive activities interact with social structures and local
ecologies to form gender roles within a society and, ultimately, to yield sex-typed behavior.
1015.5 Cultural, individual, and role variation in mating strategies: Implications for the origins
of sex differences, A.H. Eagly, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
According to the biosocial model of the origins of sex differences, male-female differences in
mating strategies stem from the placement of women and men in differing social roles. The
criteria that women and men use to select mates reflect the divergent responsibilities and
obligations that are inherent in their current and anticipated social roles. An important aspect of
these roles in many Western cultures is a family system based on a male provider and a female
homemaker. Evidence considered includes cross-cultural studies from anthropology and
psychology and psychological studies that include laboratory experiments and correlational
studies of individual differences.
1016 INVITED SYMPOSIUM
Looking at Immigrants: What influences attitudes and evaluations of the newcomer?
Convener and Chair: K. Deaux, USA
1016.1 Race, prejudice, and the evaluation of immigrant skills, V. Esses, J. Dietz, A. Bhardwaj,
University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
Immigration policies in North America have a sizeable economic focus, with the aim of bringing
in skilled immigrants who can contribute to the economy. Despite this focus, however, there is
evidence that immigrants’ skills are discounted such that immigrants experience lower labour
market participation and lower earnings relative to native-born individuals. Because of the
ambiguity surrounding the evaluation of foreign skills, prejudice is especially likely to play a role
in this process. In this presentation, we will describe our research on the role of prejudice toward
immigrants and racial prejudice in the evaluation of potential immigrant employees.
1016.2 Emotional reactions to and support for immigrant policies, M. Verkuyten, Utrecht
University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Two studies examined support for immigrant policies as a consequence of anger and sympathy
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