Creative Styles and Gender Roles in Undergraduates Students

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study investigated the relationship between self-perceived creative styles and gender role orientation. Specifically, it was predicted that the creative styles of psychologically androgynous individuals would be different than the creative styles of nonandrogynous individuals. No specific predictions regarding differences among the creative styles of nonandrogynous orientations were made. Three hundred fifty-eight college undergraduate students completed the Creativity Styles Questionnaire-Revised (CSQ-R; Kumar & Holman, 1997) and the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 19741981x). Partial support was offered for our hypothesis, as the creative styles of psychologically androgynous compared to nonandrogynous orientations were associated with significant ratings on the following 4 subscales of the CSQ-R: Self-Perceived Creative Capacity, Use of Techniques, Use of Other People, and Use of the Senses. Results of the association between nonandrogynous gender role orientations and creative styles are also presented and suggested greater similarity among the creative styles of these individuals, compared to nonandrogynous individuals. Possible explanations for these findings and their implications are discussed.