Testing Some Basic Assumptions about Psychological Androgyny

Comparisons among Methods of Scoring Androgyny Continuously Using Computer-Simulated Data

To study the relationship between the Bem-Spence categorical method of scoring androgyny and a number of continuous methods, Bem's Masculinity and Femininity scores were simulated for 50 studies of 200 subjects each. The continuous methods relate closely to one another and leave between 64% and 71% of the variance in the categorical method unaccounted for. There is little evidence for choosing one method over another. Research is needed to compare the predictions of the median-split method with those of the continuous methods.

Sex Differences in the Adaptive Value of Androgyny

Androgynous blending of masculine and feminine behaviors was found to be positively related to androgynous sex-typing in 47 college women but not in 45 college men. However, of the two forms of androgyny, only blending was inversely related to stress in women; neither held functional significance for men.

Remarks on Scoring Androgyny as a Single Continuous Variable

Properties of two newly proposed, continuous measures of psychological androgyny are discussed in relation to an androgyny-relevant measure previously described. The difficulties of reflecting the construct of androgyny in a single variable are noted, and a combination of masculinity and femininity measures, through analysis of variance or multiple regression procedures, is recommended.

ANDROGYNY, MASCULINITY, AND SELF-ESTEEM*

The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Rem Sex Role Inventory were administered to 194 adult subjects. It was found that an androgyny scale which emphasized masculinity was most predictive of self-esteem. It was shown that these results were due to the strong independent correlation between masculinity and self-esteem. There were virtually no effects due to femininity, the interaction of femininity and masculinity, or sex. An analysis of the items in the Bem Masculinity Scale suggested that the frequently reported masculinity-self-esteem relationship is an artifact of the inclusion of a “strong self-image” component in the masculine stereotype, despite the fact that this component does not distinguish males from females.

Androgeny, Flexibility, and Individualism

Questionnaire data from 195 college students were examined to clarify the relationships among masculinity, femininity, and androgyny and self-perceived flexibility and individualism. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and hierarchical regression showed no evidence for unique positive "androgyny" effects, while higher masculinity was associated with flexibility and individualism, particularly among women. Contrary to expectations, "androgynous" men were more rigid and conforming, while the cross-typed were most flexible and independent.

Psychological sexual identity and hemispheric orientation

The study examines gender and psychological sexual identity as alternative bases for the development of hemispheric orientation. Hypotheses anticipated that females place greater reliance upon right hemisphere functions, such as imagery and emotion, whereas males place more emphasis upon left hemisphere functions, such as logical reasoning. This was extended to an examination of the roles of masculinity and femininity within genders upon hemispheric orientation. With a sample of 219 male and 221 female adults, it was found that the male-left hemisphere orientation/female-right hemisphere orientation dichotomy was supported in part. However, this relationship appears to be moderated by a second dimension: females appear more internally oriented, males more externally oriented.