Abstract
Students enrolled in psychology courses completed a Bem Sex-Role Inventory and a self-disclosure scale. A three way ANOVA (sex by sex role by target of disclosure) was used to determine if androgynous subjects differed from stereotyped by not conforming to standard sex differences in: (a) pattern of targets disclosed to; (b) amount of intimate disclosure. Results indicated: (a) androgynous females reported a “peers first” profile, typical of males; (b) androgynous males reported more disclosure than stereotyped males, especially on intimate topics; (c) androgynous females reported more nonintimate discussions with their fathers; and (d) androgynous males reported the highest level of intimate disclosures to father. Sex role is a better predictor of reported self-disclosure than is sex.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bem, S. L. The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1974, 42, 155–162.
Berzins, J. I., Welling, M. A., & Wetter, R. E. A new measure of psychological androgyny based on the personality research form. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1978, 46, 126–138.
Block, J. H. Conceptions of sex role: Some cross-cultural and longitudinal perspectives. American Psychologist, 1973, 28, 512–527.
Cozby, P. Self-disclosure: A literature review. Psychological Bulletin, 1973, 79, 73–91.
Doster, J. A., & Strickland, B. R. Perceived childrearing practices and self-disclosure patterns. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1969, 33, 382.
Hennig, M., & Jardim, A. Women and management. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1977.
Hoffman, L. W. Fear of success in males and females. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1974, 42(3), 353–358.
Jourard, S. M. Self-disclosure: An experimental analysis of the transparent self. New York: Wiley, 1971.
Katz, I., Goldston, J., Cohen, M., & Stucker, S. Need satisfaction, perception, and cooperative interaction in married couples. Marriage and Family Living, 1963, 25, 209–214.
Kelly, J. A., & Worell, L. Parent behaviors related to masculine, feminine, and androgynous sex role orientations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1976, 44, 843–851.
Komarovsky, M. Dilemmas of masculinity: A study of college youth. New York: W. W. Norton, 1976.
Lipman-Blumen, J. How ideology shapes women's lives. Scientific American, January, 1972.
Lombardo, J. P., & Berzonsky, M. D. Sex differences in self-disclosure: Topic intimacy makes the difference. Journal of Social Psychology, in press.
Lombardo, J. P., & Fantasia, S. C. The relationship of self-disclosure to personality, adjustment and self-actualization. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1976, 32, 765–769.
Morgan, B. S. Intimacy of disclosure topics and sex differences in self-disclosure. Sex Roles, 1976, 2, 161–166.
O'Neil, S., Fein, D., Velit, K. M., & Frank, C. Sex differences in preadolescent self-disclosure. Sex Roles, 1976, 2, 85–88.
Pederson, D. M., & Higbee, K. L. Self-disclosure and relationship to the target person. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 1969, 15, 213–220.
Spence, J. T., & Helmreich, R. L. Masculinity and femininity. Austin, Texas Press, 1978.
Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R., & Stapp, J. Ratings of self and peers on sex-role attributes and their relation to self-esteem and concept of masculinity and femininity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 32, 29–39.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The order of the authors' names was randomly determined: Both contributed equally. Correspondence should be sent to either author at the following address: Department of Psychology, State University of New York, College at Cortland, Cortland, New York 13045.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lombardo, J.P., Lavine, L.O. Sex-role stereotyping and patterns of self-disclosure. Sex Roles 7, 403–411 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288068
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288068