Psychological masculinity and femininity and typical and maximal dominance expression in women.

Abstract

112 female undergraduates in 4 groups differing in psychological masculinity and femininity (as measured by the Personal Attributes Questionnaire) participated in 2 laboratory situations designed to measure their typical and maximal dominance expression. Typical dominance refers to one's average expression of the trait, whereas maximal dominance refers to one's response capability regarding the trait. As predicted, undifferentiated and feminine Ss were significantly less dominant than masculine and androgynous Ss were in both situations and as measured by the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) Dominance scale. Traditional prescriptions for sex role behavior also affected Ss' performance in the typical situation, where they were significantly less dominant with male confederates than with female confederates, but not in the maximal situation, where they were equally dominant with male and female confederates. Ss were more talkative with male than female confederates in both situations. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the CPI Dominance scale was the most effective predictor of situation behavior. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)