Sex differences in implicit punishment sensitivity: Evidence from two cognitive paradigms

Men, relative to women, are more likely to engage in disinhibited behaviors – such as excessive alcohol consumption or violent crimes – that implicate lower levels of punishment sensitivity. The goal of the present two studies (N = 207) was to implicitly model punishment sensitivity in terms consistent with a process-based view of this construct. Study 1 found that women slowed down following error feedback in a cognitive task to a greater extent than men. Study 2 found that women, but not men, altered their predictions following error feedback in a purported precognition task. Results are discussed in relation to theories of sex differences, punishment sensitivity processes, and proneness to disinhibited behaviors.