Publication Date

Fall 2015

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Clifton M. Oyamot

Keywords

Androgynous, Gender label, Gender stereotype, Sex Role, Sex stereotype, Undifferentiated

Subject Areas

Psychology; Developmental psychology; Social psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to see if sex role adherence could be used to predict gender stereotype use when viewing children. This was tested using a conceptual replication of an influential gender label study by Condry and Condry in which participants viewed a video of a baby crying in response to a startling event. Contrary to the Condry findings, this study found that participant perception of why a baby was crying was not consistent with the gender label given (consistent, being angry for the boy label and fearful for the girl label). Participant ratings did not vary significantly based on the gender label. Also measured in this investigation was participant sex role orientation using the BSRI, with the expectation that Sex Role would moderate the impact of the boy/girl label on perception. Sex role did not appear to have an effect on ratings with the exception of androgynous types who did rate emotion as stronger in general, but their ratings were not significantly different from those of other sex types when gender label was considered. Results indicated that androgynous types are well-adjusted and that undifferentiated types may have some maladjustment compared to the other sex roles.

Download

Share

COinS