en Psychiatry Psychiatry Original Research Original Research <p dir="ltr"><strong>Background: </strong>Researchers have been investigating similarities of and differences between homosexuals and heterosexuals for past few decades. Several studies have shown that in the particular domain (e.g., spatial ability), male homosexuals would resemble female heterosexuals better than male heterosexuals. Executive function, however, has received more attention than social cognition in this line of research.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Methods</strong>: This study focuses on theory of mind and empathy as two important components of social cognition in male homosexuals (N=14), male heterosexuals (N=15) and female heterosexuals (N=14).</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Results</strong>: Applying Reading the Mind in the Eyes test and the Empathy Quotient, no significant difference between groups was identified.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Conclusion</strong>: This study suggests that similarities of male homosexuals and female heterosexuals may be confined to executive function and not extended to some social cognition abilities like theory of mind or empathy.</p> Sexual Orientation, Theory of Mind, Empathy, Sex Differences. 1101 1106 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-915&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Soheil Shapouri soheil.shapouri@gmail.com 200319475328460019404 200319475328460019404 No Iranian Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran. Vahid Nejati vhdnejati@yahoo.com 200319475328460019405 200319475328460019405 No Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. Mehrdad Eftekhar Ardebili eftekharardebili.m@iums.ac.ir 200319475328460019406 200319475328460019406 Yes Mental health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.