08/12/11
By Jake Richards
Sadly, most female motorists are by now probably used to being subjected to unfair, sexist jokes levelled at them by male counterparts.
And now new research suggests that unfair jibes have a negative effect on performance.
Indeed the psychologists involved in the twin research study, between the University of Warwick and the University of Georgia, believe the gags could actually be a 'self-fulfilling prophecy'.
They suggest that a women's showing behind the wheel is affected considerably by self-belief, particularly in spatial awareness-themed tasks traditionally more suited to male skill sets.
In their study, published in the US journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour, researchers found that gender-related stereotypes about driving ability are likely to blight a female's in-car performance. In keeping with this, positive reinforcement largely results in an upturn in standard.
The tests involved 500-plus US college students, each asked to perform spatial tasks geared towards men. When asked to monitor their own confidence levels, the women's performance fell below that of men, however, when left alone it was of an equal standard.
A secondary test involved a group of participants being lauded with praise, and a second group not. Again, those receiving the praise fared better.
Even in the tests designed to favour men, the women who were praised matched their performance.
