psychexchange.co.uk shared resource
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Psychological Androgyny
![Page 2: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
There are costs involved in the maintenance of gender role stereotypes. These costs included limiting
opportunities for boys and girls, ignoring talent, and perpetuating unfairness in our society.
![Page 3: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Dr Sandra Lipsitz Bem invented the rex role inventory that we used earlier this module.
She introduced the idea of psychological androgyny for individuals who combined both masculine and feminine psychological traits.
Note: this is not the same as physical androgyny or intersex!
![Page 4: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
She felt that it was best to be androgynous, as one could be more adaptable to the demands of modern life.
![Page 5: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
For Bem, psychological androgyny means taking on whichever quality best fitted the
situation – whether it was masculine or feminine. It is more adaptive than
stereotyped gender identities.
![Page 6: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Androgynous individuals have been found to have: higher self-esteem (Lundy & Rosenberg, 1987; Shaw, 1983),
higher levels of identity achievement (Orlofsky, 1977), more flexibility in dating and love relationships (DeLucia, 1987).
![Page 7: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
The 1980s saw the rise of androgynous musicians such Bowie, Boy George,
Annie Lennox and Prince
![Page 8: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Witt (1997) also suggests that an androgynous gender role orientation may be more
beneficial to children than strict adherence to traditional gender roles as it opens up
more opportunities.
![Page 9: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Families with one or more androgynous parent have
been found to be highest on scores of parental warmth
and support. These androgynous parents are
found to be highly encouraging regarding
achievement and developing a sense of self
worth in sons and daughters (Sedney, 1987)
![Page 10: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Norlander & Erixon (2000) studied psychological
androgyny and creativity and the dynamics of
gender-role and personality trait. The
androgynic group scored significantly higher than
the stereotypic group with regards to creativity
![Page 11: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Criticisms:
![Page 12: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Woodhill and Samuels (2003) Bem's ideal world would be one where everyone can live up to their
potential without being tied to gender expectations. They argue that there must be negative traits to androgyny, because it is a
combination of masculinity and femininity and all their positives and negatives. Androgynous people are sensitive to both masculine and
feminine cues and as such may respond to a wider range of positive or negative stimuli than traditional people. A negatively
androgynous person would have a bigger repertoire of undesirable behaviors from which to choose a response. A negatively
androgynous person may, for example, react in an undesirable feminine way in one situation and in an undesirable masculine way in another situation Such negative behaviours may override any of
the positive benefits proposed for the androgynous person
![Page 13: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Nevid and Rathus (2005) one challenge to androgyny is the belief that masculinity, not androgyny, accounts for greater self-esteem. They believe that the relationship between psychological androgyny and self-esteem in both men and women is not based on the combination of masculine and feminine traits, but rather on the presence of masculine traits.
![Page 14: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Meta analyses (Bassoff & Glass, 1982, Whitney, 1983) have found a high correlation between masculinity and
psychological adjustment.
![Page 15: PsychExchange.co.uk Shared Resource](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584975ed8b42adf458b4b21/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Some feminist writers believe that since androgyny is the possession of both masculine and feminine
personality traits, there is an implied gender-role stereotype. Feminists would like to see these
stereotypes dissolved and people be treated as individuals, not as stereotypes.