This investigation explored the impact of gender and sex-role orientation upon the differences in description of ideal same-sex and other sex friends. It was hypothesized that less difference in such description would exist: (I) for androgynous rather than sex-role stereotyped subjects; and (2)for female subjects rather than male subjects. Gender differences affected perceptions whereas sex-role orientation differences did not. This finding confirmed the second hypothesis with female Ss exhibiting significantly less difference in their description of ideal male and ideal female friends than male Ss. Implications of this finding for Bem's (1979) reconceptualization of sex-role orientation were discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bem, S. L.Theory and measurement of androgyny: A reply to the Pedhazur-Tetenbaum and Locksley-Colten critiques . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 31, 1047-1054.
2.
Bem, S. L.On the utility of alternative procedures for assessing psychological androgyny . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1977, 4S, 196-205.
3.
Bem, S. L.The measurement of psychological androgyny . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1974, 42, 155-162.
4.
Bem, S. L. , & Lenney, E.Sex-typing and avoidance of cross-sex behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976, 33, 48-54.
5.
Bem, S. L. , Martyna, W., & Watson, C.Sex-typing and androgyny: Further exploration of the expressive domain. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976, 34, 1016-1023.
6.
Byrne, D.The attraction paradigm. New York: Academic Press, 1971.
7.
Deaux, K. , & Major, B.Sex-related patterns in the unit of perception. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1977, 3, 297-300.
8.
Duck, S. W.Similarity and perceived similarity of personal constructs as influences on friendship choice . British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 1973, 12, 1-6.
9.
Duck, S. W.Personality similarity and friendship choices by adolescents . European Journal of Social Psychology, 1975, S, 351-365.
10.
Duck, S. W.Inquiry, hypothesis and the quest for validation: Personal construct systems in the development of acquaintance. In S. W. Duck (Ed.), Theory and practice in interpersonal attraction. London: Academic Press, 1977.
11.
Duck, S. W. , & Allison, D.I liked you but I can't live with you: A study of lapsed relation-ships. Social Behavior and Personality, 1978, 6, 43-48.
12.
Duck, S. W. , & Spencer, C. P.Personal constructs and friendship formation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972, 23, 40-45.
13.
Kelly, G. A.The psychology of personal constructs. New York: Norton, 1955.
14.
Landfield, A. W.Personal construct systems in psychotherapy. Chicago: Rand Mc-Nally, 1971.
15.
Lea, M.Personality similarity in unreciprocated friendships . British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 1979, 18, 393-394.
16.
Lippa, R.Androgyny, sex-typing, and the perception of masculinity-femininity in hand-writing . Journal of Research in Personality, 1977, 11, 21-37.
17.
Locksley, A. , & Colten, M. E.Psychological androgyny: a case of mistaken identity?Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 1017-1031.
18.
Mezydlo, L. S. , & Betz, N. E.Perception of ideal sex roles as a function of sex and feminist orientation. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1980, 27, 282-285.
19.
Neimeyer, G. J. , Banikiotes, P. G., & Merluzzi, T. V.Cognitive mediation of sex-role orientation. Social Behavior and Personality, in press.
20.
Pedhazur, E. J. , & Tetenbaum, T. J.Bem Sex Role Inventory: A theoretical and methodological critique. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 996-1016.
21.
Pursell, S. A. , & Banikiotes, P. G.Androgyny and initial interpersonal attraction. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1978, 4, 235-239.
22.
Spence, J. T. , & Helmreich, R. L.The many faces of androgyny: A reply to Locksley and Colten. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 1032-1046.
