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The relationship between sex-role orientation and resolution of eriksonian developmental crises

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Abstract

A total of 139 female and 133 male undergraduates completed the Bem Sex-role Inventory and the Inventory of Psychosocial Development, a measure of resolution of Erikson's developmental crises, in a study designed to assess the relationship between sex roles and psychological adjustment. The results indicated that the androgynous subjects had higher adjustment scores than subjects in the other three sex-role classifications. Further analyses revealed that both the masculinity and femininity components of androgyny were significant predictors of adjustment, reinforcing the suggestion that androgyny is a more optimal sex role. It was also demonstrated that the masculine component of androgyny was associated more strongly with adjustment. The results are discussed in terms of theories of the virtue of an androgynous as opposed to sex-typed sex role.

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This report is based in part on an Honors thesis submitted by the first author to Syracuse University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

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Glazer, C.A., Dusek, J.B. The relationship between sex-role orientation and resolution of eriksonian developmental crises. Sex Roles 13, 653–661 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287301

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