Men and women may be from the same planet after all. A US psychologist says there are not that many differences between the genders.

　　Janet Shibley-Hyde, women's studies specialist from the University of Wisconsin, says men and women are more similar than the popular perception.

　　She highlights studies showing similarities in personality, communication, and leadership.

　　But a UK psychologist said there were differences which should be recognized.

　　There is a popular perception that the psychological difference between men and women is substantial - as seen in books such as Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus by John Gray.

　　And there are stereotypes , such as women being more emotional than men, or men having better spatial awareness.

　　But Dr Hyde, writing in American Psychologist, says her review of 46 meta-analyses conducted over the last 20 years, shows men and women are alike in the majority of areas.

　　The studies looked at cognitive abilities, verbal and nonverbal communication, social or psychological traits like aggression or leadership, psychological well-being like self-esteem.

　　Dr Hyde said gender differences accounted for either no or a very small effect for most of the psychological variables examined.

　　She said only throwing distance and physical aggression showed marked gender differences.

　　But Dr Nick Neave, a spokesman for the British Psychological Society and an expert in sex differences at the University of Northumbria, said men and women did differ.

　　"Scientists have been guilty of over-emphasising sex differences. There are differences. Ignoring them is foolish, and exaggerating them is dangerous. But that doesn't mean that society shouldn't treat the genders equally."