Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between career ambition – defined as high achievement motivation and strong career orientation – and both extrinsic (salary, position) and intrinsic success (job satisfaction, goal attainment) of psychologists. Over and above this, the authors explore whether extrinsic success predicts intrinsic success or vice versa. Design/methodology/approach In order to analyze the impact of career ambition on extrinsic and intrinsic success, the authors conducted two online studies with psychology graduates – a cross-sectional study (Study 1; n=119) and a longitudinal one (Study 2; n=63; two-three years interval between assessment points). The authors applied regression and cross-lagged analyses to investigate the interplay of career ambition and career success. Findings The results show that career ambition impacts on both extrinsic and intrinsic success. More specifically, extrinsic success was positively predicted by career orientation in Study 1. In contrast, achievement motivation was negatively related to intrinsic success (Study 1) and even diminished it over time (Study 2). Findings of the cross-lagged analysis further underlined that intrinsic success predicts extrinsic success. Originality/value The study contributes by separately investigating two aspects of career ambition and showing their different effects on career success in the specific profession of psychologists. As cross-lagged findings revealed that psychologists’ intrinsic success predicted their extrinsic success and not vice versa, the authors discuss whether psychologists might be worsening their career development in the long run by showing high achievement motivation.

According to the gender role strain paradigm (GRSP), men's adherence to masculinity ideology could result in dysfunction strain when it becomes incompatible with other role demands. To support the relevance of GRSP in the work context, we explored the relationship between masculinity ideology and strain for men in female-dominated occupations by introducing social stressors as an intervening variable. Within female-dominated occupations, the feminine gender role can be seen as a crucial job requirement and contradictory to masculinity ideology. We proposed that men adherent to masculinity ideology would experience more social stressors with colleagues and superiors, which would lead to an indirect effect on men's psychological strain. A sample of 175 German men in female-dominated occupations and 88 men in male-dominated occupations completed questionnaires. Men rated their level of adherence to mascu linity ideology (toughness, status, and antifemininity), perceived social stressors, and strains (emotional irritation, depressive mood). The results of multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) provided the best fit for a partial mediation model, showing a stronger relationship between masculinity ideology and social stressors for men in female-dominated occupations than for men in male-dominated occupations. Our data therefore supported ideas of dysfunction strain in specific work settings when considering men's perception of social stressors as a mediating mechanism.

Our study examined whether traditional attitudes of female colleagues toward the male role negatively impact the psychological health of German men in nontraditional occupations and whether these relationships are mediated by social stressors at work. Traditional attitudes are presented as a threefold concept: Attitudes of female colleagues toward male anti-femininity, status, and toughness were measured. One hundred and thirteen men and 174 of their female colleagues from eastern parts of Germany and working in the healthcare and educational sectors completed hard-copy questionnaires. We used bootstrapped regression models to test for direct effects, controlling for autonomy, working hours, professional tenure, and sector of work. Bootstrapping strategies were also used for the analysis of indirect effects, even considering controls. The attitudes of female colleagues toward male anti-femininity were directly related to heightened depressive moods and lowered job satisfaction. For the attitudes of female colleagues toward male status, or male toughness we found no such direct relationships. Only indirect effects of female colleagues' attitudes toward male status, or male toughness on men's job satisfaction through social stressors were found. The study provides theoretical reasoning and empirical evidence for the importance of female colleagues' attitudes and interpersonal conflicts at work for German men in non-traditional occupations.

Abstract. Building on social capital theory, we assumed that social skills (communication skills, cooperation skills) are essential for successful career development, particularly in social professions. Applying a mixed-method approach, we integrate data from a questionnaire study with 164 psychologists (Study 1) and an interview study with 20 psychologists (Study 2). In Study 1, we found communication skills to be related to objective career success (salary, position), whereas cooperation skills were associated with subjective career success (job satisfaction, goal attainment). Further, the interaction of communication and cooperation skills revealed marginal effects on career success. To gain a broader understanding of the self-estimated role of social skills, in Study 2 qualitative data were considered. In line with professional competence models, we found four broad categories of skills that psychologists report to be useful in their professional work. Social skills accounted for 35.5 % of the responses, highlighting their unique role in social professions.

In this study, we investigated the masculinity of men in female-dominated occupations. Our assumptions that token status, masculine task redefinition, and job control are related to masculinity were supported by results of segmented and hierarchical regressions with data from 213 men in female-dominated occupations. A comparison with 98 men from male-dominated occupations revealed that these results are specific for men in female-dominated occupations. Moderated regression did not support the assumption that the relation between masculine task redefinition would be stronger under low job control. Instead, the opposite pattern was found. Under high job control, the choice of tasks and their redefinition as masculine may be easier. Job control is discussed as a precondition for redefinition processes.