The women being better at multi tasking myth?
Discussion
having had just about every woman I know claim that women multi-task better than men I have done a bit of background research as to where this notion comes from. My conclusion at present is:
Their own minds.
All the references to multi-tasking are in glib throw away editorials from women authors or in such narrow fields that they couldn't be generalisable: "in a sample of 28 mena nd women womne wee more likley to be able to hold a conversation about the weather and stay within the lines whilst painting by numbers."
Where did this myth come from, and is there any real evidence to back it up?
Their own minds.
All the references to multi-tasking are in glib throw away editorials from women authors or in such narrow fields that they couldn't be generalisable: "in a sample of 28 mena nd women womne wee more likley to be able to hold a conversation about the weather and stay within the lines whilst painting by numbers."
Where did this myth come from, and is there any real evidence to back it up?
Beat that!
The myth apparently comes from our hunter gatherer days and good old evolution. Men were hunters and those more able to intensely focus on one single task were more successful. Women on the other hand had a number of tasks to deal with such as their ability to look after multiple children, ensure food was preserved, repair items for the menfolk etc, thus those who had a greater ability to keep track of multiple tasks were more successful. Success = survival and the ability to pass on those genes.
Apparently this is also the reason why women's peripheral vision is superior to mens, and why they always catch us admiring totty when we are sure they are looking the other way.
Apparently this is also the reason why women's peripheral vision is superior to mens, and why they always catch us admiring totty when we are sure they are looking the other way.
Lion-O said:
Apparently this is also the reason why women's peripheral vision is superior to mens, and why they always catch us admiring totty when we are sure they are looking the other way.
this ability never ceases to amaze me - they also seem to have enhanced audio-filtering & amplication...
>> Edited by fido on Monday 23 January 10:08
I always thought that this was established scientific fact? I just did a google, and sure enough turned up lots of unreliable claims from pop-literature and women's magazines - but I think this has more to do with the amount of this stuff on the web vs reliable fact, rather than the actual amount of truth behind it! I found this link:
[url]http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=health&[/url]
The differences between male and female brains are very well documented in reliable scientific publications. I've read about it in New Scientist and Scientific American many times and the research quoted is mainstream science.
Of course, the tendancies of the brain towards male and female activities aren't exclusive to those sexes. I did a male/female brain test on the BBC Science website a few months ago and discovered that my obviously male brain has very strong parts of female in it (so far as the test went anyway!) - there was one test where men were supposed to get 3-8 out of 20, and women 10-15; I got 19 out of 20! On the other side of the coin, a female friend of mine scored on the male side in the tests. Most men fall on the male side of it though, and most women on the female; and even a female brained male is obviously male by looking at the results.
There's a lot of mis-leading use of the hunter-gather caveman type stuff, but in my opinion this is misleading as that was a long time ago. The basic truth of the matter is that women and men think and act in very different ways. Forget the modern politically correct rubbish, it is scientific fact that men and women are different and it will always be this way.
[url]http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=health&[/url]
The differences between male and female brains are very well documented in reliable scientific publications. I've read about it in New Scientist and Scientific American many times and the research quoted is mainstream science.
Of course, the tendancies of the brain towards male and female activities aren't exclusive to those sexes. I did a male/female brain test on the BBC Science website a few months ago and discovered that my obviously male brain has very strong parts of female in it (so far as the test went anyway!) - there was one test where men were supposed to get 3-8 out of 20, and women 10-15; I got 19 out of 20! On the other side of the coin, a female friend of mine scored on the male side in the tests. Most men fall on the male side of it though, and most women on the female; and even a female brained male is obviously male by looking at the results.
There's a lot of mis-leading use of the hunter-gather caveman type stuff, but in my opinion this is misleading as that was a long time ago. The basic truth of the matter is that women and men think and act in very different ways. Forget the modern politically correct rubbish, it is scientific fact that men and women are different and it will always be this way.
Lion-O said:
The myth apparently comes from our hunter gatherer days and good old evolution. Men were hunters and those more able to intensely focus on one single task were more successful. Women on the other hand had a number of tasks to deal with such as their ability to look after multiple children, ensure food was preserved, repair items for the menfolk etc, thus those who had a greater ability to keep track of multiple tasks were more successful. Success = survival and the ability to pass on those genes.
Apparently this is also the reason why women's peripheral vision is superior to mens, and why they always catch us admiring totty when we are sure they are looking the other way.
Some truth perhaps but the massive hype of the supposed "advantage" this gives them is laughable. The other equally laughable dose of hype revolves around their supposed superiority at communicating. I mean think of all the different forms of communication; maps
,flat pack instructions , the internet, ham radio, TV, CB radio.... etc. Pioneered and used mostly by men. Even in social situations their supposed superiority seems lacking, unless you count sulking, getting stroppy, flouncing off in a huff and bearing grudges years after every man has long forgotten the issue, as being, somehow, an advantage. The assumption of telepathy is perhaps the most puzzling foundation of much of the assumed superiority. Women just assume that everyone must know something even when everyone looks on totally bewildered. Ask them nicely and they just get cross because you didn't "know". The logic goes "everyone must know what I'm thinking because I communicate so well. I do this so well that anyone who dosen't know must be bad at communicating or trying to offend me". They do this with other women just as much as with men, I've seen it happen lots of times, so it isn't just when dealing with men. I reckon the hype has a lot to do with an inferiority complex.
In my own experience its true and all to do with thought proccess's,a woman will be thinking about several things at once,going to work,tea,dinner,little ones school,decorating the house,building an extension,new patio doors and windows,perhaps moving,updating her hatchback,oow and look at her makeup,i must ask her where she got that lipstick,and perhaps get some in my lunch hour .....etc etc etc,in comparison a bloke's mind will be taken up by the nice arse in accounts.
At the risk of being highly controversial I would say, from experience and literature that women tend to be better at organising a number of thought processes simultaneously. This is why they tend to be inately better at complex administratvie tasks.
Men on the other hand tend to be better at producing innovative ideas and solutions (or creating problems!).
This ties in with the observation (not mine) that women hold the middle ground in intelligence, while men tend to occupy the extremes. A controversial notion to which there are, of course many many exceptions.
All the above are generalisations, but in a discussion such as this they are the olny types of points with any validity. Specific cases are irrelevent.
And finally, I am not sure if I agree with the above, but there are certainly some differences in thought processes.
Men on the other hand tend to be better at producing innovative ideas and solutions (or creating problems!).
This ties in with the observation (not mine) that women hold the middle ground in intelligence, while men tend to occupy the extremes. A controversial notion to which there are, of course many many exceptions.
All the above are generalisations, but in a discussion such as this they are the olny types of points with any validity. Specific cases are irrelevent.
And finally, I am not sure if I agree with the above, but there are certainly some differences in thought processes.
I should add that yes, indeed - it isn't just multi-tasking that women differ over. I find this topic interesting, and have read many articles on it in science magazines and also seen many documentaries on it. There are a whole raft of interesting differences in the way the male and female brains work.
It is often said that women should be better at driving because of the multi-tasking issue. However, driving well requires a whole mix of skills. One major one is hand-eye co-ordination, and men tend to outperform women with this. Ultimately, to be a good driver I think you need a balanced brain that isn't weighted too far either way.
It is often said that women should be better at driving because of the multi-tasking issue. However, driving well requires a whole mix of skills. One major one is hand-eye co-ordination, and men tend to outperform women with this. Ultimately, to be a good driver I think you need a balanced brain that isn't weighted too far either way.
RobM77 said:
It is often said that women should be better at driving because of the multi-tasking issue. However, driving well requires a whole mix of skills. One major one is hand-eye co-ordination, and men tend to outperform women with this. Ultimately, to be a good driver I think you need a balanced brain that isn't weighted too far either way.
But conversely, with men being able to concentrate on one single task more effectively and for longer (like driving) we should be better. Not to mention the top-down way we see our position relative to our surroundings, whereas women are much more visually orientated, i.e. we can effectively 'see' our position on a mental map and react to what we have also placed on our map, women react to what they can physically see.
Thing is confronted with 4 tasks that need doing, a man will assess the length of time required to complete each task, it's urgency, and prioristise the tasks accordingly. He will then proceed to tackle each task in turn. Completing each task in order before beginning the next one.
A woman confronted with the same scenario will attempt, unsuccessfully, to perform all 4 tasks simultaneously, whilst adding a 5th task of bitching to anyone in ear shot about how somebody else should be doing tasks 1-4!
A woman confronted with the same scenario will attempt, unsuccessfully, to perform all 4 tasks simultaneously, whilst adding a 5th task of bitching to anyone in ear shot about how somebody else should be doing tasks 1-4!
Something that I do with tasks is work out all the possible ways of doing them, choose the best, and then do it. Neither my current girlfriend nor my ex seemed to think like that. Hardly scientific though - I don't know if my way of thinking is generally a male thing or not?
With regard to directional sense, my ex and I often used to go for walks in the woods. She was amazed that I could walk for half an hour, and then just say "the car's over there, let's head back". She honestly didn't have a clue where she was after about five minutes! Interesting. We sometimes went walking with friends and the same truth held up for women vs men.
With regard to directional sense, my ex and I often used to go for walks in the woods. She was amazed that I could walk for half an hour, and then just say "the car's over there, let's head back". She honestly didn't have a clue where she was after about five minutes! Interesting. We sometimes went walking with friends and the same truth held up for women vs men.
Has anyone else noticed that women seem inherently better at ironing than men? It takes me about 2 or 3 minutes to properly iron a shirt, whereas my Mum can just whisk one off in about 30 seconds. It isn't just practise either, cause my sister has always been able to out-iron me, even though I have much more experience (due to living away from home).
As for extreme ironing though, I think men rule that sport
As for extreme ironing though, I think men rule that sport
RobM77 said:Yes,but they never doa PROPER job do they? You always end up with a shirt with two creases. When they wash up the pans get a wipe on the inside, but they are happy for encrusted grime to build up on the outside. When they tidy the house everything gets thrown in the nearest cupboard, not in its proper place. They'll tidy the CD collection, but do they ever alphabetise it? They'll wash the car, but do they ever clean the alloys or the inside of the wheelarches? Do they ever check the oil, washer bottle and tyre pressures when they fill the car up? Do they ever take anything apart, clean the bits, and put it back together again? No, if you can't see it, it must be clean already.
Has anyone else noticed that women seem inherently better at ironing than men? It takes me about 2 or 3 minutes to properly iron a shirt, whereas my Mum can just whisk one off in about 30 seconds. It isn't just practise either, cause my sister has always been able to out-iron me, even though I have much more experience (due to living away from home).
As for extreme ironing though, I think men rule that sport
They're not better at it, they just happy to settle for a make-do job.
I am in such trouble now.
>> Edited by victormeldrew on Monday 23 January 12:11
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff