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Biological sex, by-products, and other continuous variables

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 2022

John G. Neuhoff Open the ORCID record for John G. Neuhoff [Opens in a new window]
John G. Neuhoff*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 44001, USA jneuhoff@wooster.edu http://jneuhoff.com
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Abstract

Sex/gender is a continuous variable that researchers frequently treat as dichotomous. This practice can mask continuous underlying adaptive traits and yield spurious dichotomous “sex differences.” As such, many sex differences in self-protection may be evolutionary by-products of underlying adaptations rather than adaptations themselves. Binary analysis of continuous sex/gender is ill-considered science that can contribute to inequality and counterproductive public policy.

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Open Peer Commentary
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Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 45 , 2022 , e144
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Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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