How gender stereotypes affect memory?: Forgetfulness and false memories production in university students

Abstract

Introduction : Traditionally, gender stereotypes associated power tasks to male and domestic tasks to females (García - Retamero & López - Zafra , 2006 ; Eagly , 2007 ) . Objective : The aim of this study were to observe if this ideas are still valid in college students and if have influence in their cognitive performance . Methods : UJI students completed a memory task with recognition test and answered three questions about the ability of women and men to develop a professional career . Results : No differences between women and men were observed regarding to explicit questions . To the other hand regarding memory task, both women and men showed more false negative errors for "woman - career" stimuli and more false positive for "men - career" stimuli and less false negative for "woman - career" stimuli and less false positive for "woman - career“ stimuli Conclusions : According to the present study gender stereotype are still existing and have influence to cognitive performance in college students .