Why should the topic of sex differences in mind have any relevance to the theme of conflict, the focus of this book and lecture series? In my view, there are two links.

First, some consider that the male and female mind are so intrinsically different that conflict in some form – for example, mutual misunderstanding – is inevitable. I will argue that there are interesting differences between the average male and female mind but that recognizing these need not lead to conflict and instead could lead to mutual respect of difference. In using the word ‘average’, I am from the outset recognizing that such differences may have little to say about individuals, a point I will return to. In addition, the features that define the average male and female mind are not like chalk and cheese. The average male and female mind contains both chalk and cheese, as it were. The differences are subtle, and are to do with the relative proportions of chalk and cheese in the typical male and female mind. Fear not. I will get away from this metaphor quite soon, and define the qualities that we can quantify. But it does mean that because the male mind is not all chalk, and the female mind all cheese, the two sexes are not destined to be mystified by the other.