Gender and gender role differences in Domain-Masculine Intelligence and Beliefs about Intelligence: A study with Mensa UK members

In all 278 members of British Mensa completed three questionnaires concerned with self-estimated intelligence (SEI), Beliefs about Intelligence and its measurement and a gender role inventory. Males rated their domain masculine intelligence (a combination of mathematical, spatial and verbal intelligence) almost three (143.9) and females more than two (134.3) standard deviations above the mean and this difference was highly significant (Cohen’s d = .70). The Beliefs about Intelligence factored into seven interpretable dimensions and there were no gender differences between them. Masculinity was positively correlated with SEI. Regressing SEI on gender, gender role and Beliefs about Intelligence showed gender was the only significant predictor. Despite the high self-estimates which maybe expected with this group the results confirm nearly all studies in this area.

► Nearly 300 members of Mensa served as participants. ► The highly intelligent females estimated their scores lower than males. ► Gender role had little effect on self-estimates.