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The relationships among sex-role orientation, cognitive complexity, and tolerance for ambiguity

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Abstract

Two hundred and four female and eighty-seven male college students completed the Schroder and Streufert measure of cognitive complexity, Budner's Intolerance for Ambiguity Scale, and Bem's Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). It was hypothesized that subjects classified as androgynous and as cross-sexed would be more cognitively complex and more tolerant of ambiguity than sex-typed or undifferentiated subjects; and cognitive complexity and intolerance for ambiguity would be negatively correlated. The data indicated that male and female androgynous and cross-sexed subjects were more tolerant of ambiguity than sex-typed subjects and cognitively more complex than undifferentiated subjects. Cross-sexed subjects were more cognitively complex than sex-typed subjects. Cognitive complexity and intolerance for ambiguity were negatively correlated. The BSRI had differential power to predict cognitive complexity depending upon sex of subject.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA

    Naomi G. Rotter

  2. Montclair State College, USA

    Agnes N. O'Connell

Authors
  1. Naomi G. Rotter
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  2. Agnes N. O'Connell
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Both authors are senior authors; each contributed equally to this work.

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Rotter, N.G., O'Connell, A.N. The relationships among sex-role orientation, cognitive complexity, and tolerance for ambiguity. Sex Roles 8, 1209–1220 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287947

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287947

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