Declines in have been well-established by research, and help explain age differences in a variety of cognitive abilities.

Most sociologists agree that: a. culture is central in shaping gender roles, but only in preliterate societies. b. biological factors have some influence, but cultural factors are more important determinants of gender roles. c. biological factors are influential in determining gender roles, but only in industrial or complex societies. d. biological factors only explain differences between men and women with regard to aggression and disease. e. there is no difference between the influences of culture or biology on the development of gender roles, as they are unpredictable.