Assessed self-reported compliance, anger, and sympathy among subjects identified as dependent (N=26) or overcontrolled hostility (N=25), who read accounts of four different request styles. Dependent and overcontrolled subjects were not more compliant; however, females responded to the assertive request with more anger and less sympathy than did…

Investigated the relationship between sex role orientations and performance in interpersonal situations. Males and females in each of four sex role categories role-played situations requiring the appropriate expression of assertiveness. Androgynous subjects were most effective in rated skills components while undifferentiated subjects were highly…

Feminine sex-role behavior, which includes deferential, nonassertive behavior, may stem from women's low status position and powerlessness. In a study of male and female college students, perceptions of the acceptability of assertive behavior were examined as a function of: (1) sex and status characteristics of assertive speakers; (2) sex of the…

While a great deal of clinical research attention has been directed toward assertive training, there have been few studies examining the social impact or interpersonal evaluation of assertive versus unassertive behavior, including the differential evaluation of assertiveness exhibited by males and females. In this study, subjects observed a…

The effect of sex of therapist and client on therapists' attitudes toward assertiveness problems varies from case to case. There is little evidence for sexism in counseling for assertiveness problems, except for the existence of a double standard with regard to sexually assertive clients. (Author)

In U.S. society dominance appears extremely desirable. The purpose of this study was an attempt to measure the relationship between dominance, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Research questions were: "Do the people who score high on the Dominance scale of the California Psychological Inventory have higher self-esteem scores as measured by…

Earlier research investigating the relationship between physical attractiveness and assertiveness found that physically attractive females were more assertive than other females. To investigate this relationship further and to broaden the scope of the study, 69 students were videotaped in groups of five to ten while responding to open-ended…

It has been suggested that a lack of assertiveness may be an important component of the psychological make-up of bulimic women, and that bulimic women may experience particular difficulties in asserting themselves in interactions with men. In this study, 23 women reporting the symptoms of bulimia by high scores on the Bulimia Test (BULIT) and 21…

Compared low-assertive analog subjects from classes and low-assertive clients from a university counseling center on a behavioral assertion test and psychological adjustment measures. Female analog and clinical subjects did not differ on either the behavioral test or adjustment variables. Analog males appeared significantly more well-adjusted.…

Most definitions and training of assertive behavior fail to consider cultural diversity in social skills. Verbal, nonverbal and cognitive components of assertive behavior were investigated to determine cultural variations in assertiveness. Black (N=30) and white (N=30) male and female college students enacted 16 role-play scenes with 4 role…

Describes the development of a new sex role inventory, the Masculine-Feminine Personality Traits Scale, based on Bem's Sex Role Inventory and using Mexican sex role stereotypes. The instrument includes scales measuring assertive masculinity, affective femininity, aggressive masculinity, and submissive femininity. Results show expected response…

Examined sex-typed traits (instrumentality and expressiveness), the work environment (demands and interpersonal resources), and importance of stressor episodes as predictors of measures of coping (avoidance, problem reappraisal, and active problem solving) with 132 managers. Found women more likely to use avoidance and problem-reappraisal coping,…

Androgyny consists of the integration of relatively large numbers of both feminine and masculine sex-stereotyped characteristics. The androgynous person is viewed as a more adaptable individual. Several researchers have studied this "androgyny-equals-adaptability" hypothesis set forth by Bem (1974). Examination of this data yields a phenomenon…

Personality characteristics among females admitted to the U.S. Air Force Academy were compared to those of male cadets and to females attending other colleges. The Personality Research Form-E (Jackson, 1974) was administered to all 217 females of an entering class at the Academy during the first few days of basic cadet training. Approximately…

A study sought to determine whether gender-related differences in communication style emerge developmentally. The study focused on assertive, egalitarian, and supportive communication styles rather than using the traditional dichotomous approach, which categorizes styles as feminine or masculine. Gender differences in self-identified communication…