Personality correlates of the sex role types

Abstract

Tested three hypotheses with regard to the differences among four sex-role types. Ss were 423 girls and 225 boys in five private high schools in grades 9 to 12. Each volunteer S completed the Berm Sex Role Inventory, the Interpersonal Style Inventory, and Loevinger's Sentence Completion Test. Ss were categorized or typed as Masculine, Feminine, Androgynous and Undifferentiated on the basis of their masculine and feminine BSRI scores. A discriminant function was applied to compare the groups with respect to the ISI scores. The first dimension of difference for both sexes was defined by the Masculine typed group and the second dimension by the Feminine typed group. The Androgynous typed group scored high on both axes, while the Undifferentiated scored low on both axes. The Masculine typed group was most directive, achieving, and independent. The Feminine group was highest on nurturance, tolerance and sensitivity. The Androgynous members were balanced with respect to the above characteristics. Comparison of the groups, separated by sex, as to ego development score, indicated that the male undifferentiated were significantly lower.

Ethnic and Acculturation Differences in Self-Disclosure

“…"Feminine" Downloaded by [JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY] at 09:02 17 March 2015 social interaction involves emotional responsibility, reactivity, and a communal "orientation toward social interaction" (16). A number of empirical investigations have provided support for the instrumental and expressive forms of social interaction associated with masculinity and femininity (e.g., 15,22,23,24,33). In fact, Malloy and Fyfe (24) concluded that, "the masculine orientation involves a take-charge, task-oriented approach to environmental demands; while a feminine orientation involves a more sensitive, emotionally expressive, cooperative approach to social interaction" (24, p. 17).…”

Sex role expectations and ego level in relation to problem marriages.

“…This hypothesis has been tested by Lorr and Manning (1978) and by Schiff and Koopman (1978), both using the Sentence Completion Test of ego development and the Bern (1974) Sex-Role Inventory as a measure of androgyny. Lorr and Manning found no significant differences in ego level among high school girls sorted by Bern sex role categories.…”

Alcohol dependence and gender-role orientation

“…As alcohol has numerous and severe actions on libido and hormonal status, the high rates of the feminine and the undifferentiated category can be seen as a secondary modification of gender-role orientation. On the other hand, as the undifferentiated self-concept is related to lower ego development scores [23], obviously being more typical in adolescents and young adults [32], and alcohol abuse begins at this time, it could be assumed that alcohol abuse prevents a further development of gender-role orientation. Regarding qualitative differences in alcohol abuse by males and females, it can be argued that the causal relationship of gender-role orientation and alcoholism is also different for both sexes.…”