Publication Date

9-1978

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Retta Poe, Richard Miller, Lois Layne

Degree Program

Department of Psychology

Degree Type

Master of Arts

Abstract

Previous research concerning sex-role stereotyping, psychological androgyny, and mental health as it relates both to sex-role stereotyping and androgyny was reviewed. The literature indicated the need for a reevaluation of mental health standards with regard to sex-role stereotypes. The present study attempted to approach this need by examining the relationship between psychological androgyny and attitudes toward sex-role stereotyping. It was hypothesized that androgynous individuals would be more likely than other individuals to state that a hypothetical person possessing a specific set of traits could be either male or female. IL was anticipated that this would be true regardless of the adjective trait list (Masculine, Feminine, Masculine/Feminine, or Neutral) received by the subject. To test this hypothesis, the Bern Sex-Role Inventory and four adjective trait lists were administered to 318 male and female undergraduate students enrolled in Introductory Psychology. Each student received the Bern Sex-Role Inventory and one of the adjective trait lists. Small cell sizes necessitated the use of a descriptive analysis rather than a more rigorous statistical analysis. The results suggested that the hypothesis was not supported. It seemed that in no instance were androgynous people more likely than non-androgynous people to refrain from attributing gender to a hypothetical person. Specific findings and possible interpretations of the results were discussed, and possible explanations for the lack of statistically significant findings were offered.

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Gender and Sexuality | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Sociology

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