It is important to understand the many controversies about cognitive sex differences because beliefs about these differences are often used to justify pubic policies and individual actions. As teachers of psychology, we need to provide a safe environment where students can think and argue about why, how, and how much females and males are similar and different in cognitive abilities. We need to recognize that biological and social/environmental variables do not operate independently. Depending on the environment, we could be enhancing, creating, diminishing, or eliminating cognitive sex differences. In order to foster critical thinking about this volatile topic, we need to remind students that females and males are both similar and different and that we cannot expect simple answers to complex problems.