Self Perceptions and Social Misconceptions: The Implications of Gender Traits for Locus of Control and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Are individuals who self-attribute both gender typical and gender atypical traits more satisfied with their lives than those who self-attribute only gender typical traits? It was assumed that men and women who selfattribute instrumental ('masculine') as well as expressive ('feminine') traits benefit both because they attain more control over their lives and also because a sense of control increases life satisfaction. Analyses of data from a representative Israeli (Jewish) sample of over 500 respondents show that men do indeed benefit from self-attribution of both instrumental and expressive traits, which increase their sense of control as well as their life satisfaction. Women, on the other hand, benefit only from the self-attribution of atypical ('masculine') traits, as their sense of control and their life satisfaction depend on instrumental traits, not on expressive ones. Thus, although the levels of control and life satisfaction that men and women report are similar, the process by which they reach these levels is different and gender-specific.

2007 Presidential Address: Fear of Losing Control: Power, Perfectionism, and the Psychology of Women

“…Recent meta‐analyses have shown no gender differences in locus of control (Feingold, 1994), but indicate that, over time, Americans are becoming more external and increasingly believe that their lives are influenced by forces outside their own control (Twenge, Zhang, & Im, 2004). External locus of control has been shown to be predictive of lower well‐being and life satisfaction (Klonowicz, 2001; Moore, 2007), greater depression and anxiety (Hahn, 2000; Mirowsky & Ross, 1990; Morelli, Krotinger, & Moore, 1979), greater stress levels and poorer coping (Abouserie, 1994; Krause & Stryker, 1984), weaker self‐control, lower ability to delay gratification (Mischel, Zeiss, & Zeiss, 1974), greater body dissatisfaction (Furnham & Greaves, 2006), and greater likelihood of reporting PMS 2 (O'Boyle, Severino, & Hurt, 1988).…”

High School Sport Participation and Subsequent Psychological Well-Being and Physical Activity: The Mediating Influences of Body Image, Physical Competence, and Instrumentality

“…Body image, physical competence, and instrumentality have been associated with psychological well-being among girls and women (e.g., Cash et al 2004;Moore 2007;Pedersen and Seidman, 2004;Richman and Shaffer 2000;Shaffer and Wittes 2006;Sinclair and Myers 2004;Slater and Tiggemann, 2006). Because physical appearance is so highly valued in Western culture, it is not surprising that having a good body image would be associated with also having a positive view of one's self and life (Seihad and Bouffard 2007;Sinclair and Myers 2004).…”

'Would women leaders have prevented the global financial crisis?' Teaching critical thinking by questioning a question

“…Complementarities can be found between cooperation and competition, and self-interest and altruism [Nelson, (1996[Nelson, ( , 2011a. In particular, psychologists have noted that personality traits of warmth -"the expressive factor (including such traits as understanding, sympathetic, and loyal)" (Moore, 2007) -and competence -"the instrumental factor (including such traits as analytical, decisive, leader, and assertive)" (Moore, 2007) -are not mutually exclusive. Individuals can rate themselves and others as high on both, only one, or neither.…”

“…Individuals can rate themselves and others as high on both, only one, or neither. While historically and stereotypically, traits of competence were considered more appropriate for men, and traits of warmth more appropriate for women, in recent decades, psychologists have observed greater variability in self-attribution across genders (see also, Greenwald et al, 2002;Moore, 2007). The possibility of complementarity is illustrated in Figure 6.…”