Does Gender Schema Mediate between Sex-Role Identity and Self-Actualization?

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the Bern Sex-role Inventory and Self-actualization as measured by the Personality Orientation Inventory. To examine both relationships between sex-role groups and individual scales of the inventory and to assess the relative contributions of masculinity and femininity scores to the Personality Orientation Inventory, 64 men and 116 women undergraduates were tested. There were significant main effects for Bern sex-role groups on the POI scales of Inner-directed, Self-actualizing Value, Feeling Reactivity, Acceptance of Aggression, and Capacity for Intimate Contact. Multiple regression analyses for men and women separately on each personality subscale showed all significant beta weights for femininity were negative and all significant correlations for masculinity were positive. There were more significant beta weights for the women than for the men. The college students' scores indicate high femininity is detrimental to self-actualization and high masculinity is conducive to self-actualization, as measured by POI scales.