Skip to main content
Log in

The masculine role inventory: Components and correlates

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to develop and validate a self-report inventory, the Masculine Role Inventory (MRI), designed to measure the success preoccupation, restrictive emotionality and inhibited affection aspects of the masculine role. Restrictive emotionality was defined as the restricted expression of privately felt emotions. Inhibited affection refers to the inhibition of feelings of affection and tenderness toward others. Success preoccupation was defined as a persistent preoccupation with success and career development to the exclusion of interpersonal pursuits and devotion. The psychometric properties of the MRI were evaluated with reliability and factor analyses. Self-disclosure correlates were also investigated. The results demonstrated adequate reliability and validity for the MRI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bakan, D. The duality of human existence. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baucom, D. Independent masculinity and femininity scales on the California Psychological Inventory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1976, 44, 876.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belk, S. S., & Snell, W. E., Jr. Beliefs about women: Components and correlates. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, in press. (a)

  • Belk, S. S., & Snell, W. E., Jr. Avoidance strategy use in intimate relationships. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, in press. (b)

  • Bem, S. L. The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 1974, 155–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson, P. L., & Vincent, S. Development and validation of the Sexist Attitudes Toward Women Scale (SATWS). Psychology of Women Quarterly, 1980, 5, 276–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brannon, R. The male sex role: Our culture's blueprint of manhood, and what it's done for us lately. In D. David & R. Brannon (Eds.), The forty-nine percent majority: The male sex role. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brannon, R., & Juni, S. A scale for measuring attitudes toward masculinity. Psychological Documents, 1984, 14, 6. (MS. 2012).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cicone, M. V., & Ruble, D. N. Beliefs about males. Journal of Social Issues, 1978, 34, 5–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • David, D. S., & Brannon, R. The forty-nine percent majority: The male sex role. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deaux, K., & Lewis, L. L. Assessment of gender stereotypes: Methodology and components. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 1983, 13, 25. (MS. 2583).

    Google Scholar 

  • Downs, A. C., & Engleson, S. A. The Attitudes Toward Men Scale (AMS): An analysis of the role and status of men and masculinity. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 1982, 12, 45. (Ms. 2503).

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, J. A., & Moore, R. J. Attitudes toward the Male's Role Scale (AMR): An objective instrument to measure attitudes toward the male's sex role in contemporary society. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 1978, 8, 35. (MS. 1678).

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, J. A. The male experience. Dubuque, Iowa: Brown Co., Publishers, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fasteau, M. F. The male machine. New York: Dell Publishing Co., 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiebert, M. Measuring traditional and liberated males' attitudes. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1983, 56, 83–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, J. Warning: The male sex role may be dangerous to your health. Journal of Social Issues, 1978, 34, 65–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heilbrun, A. B., Jr. Measurement of masculine and feminine sex-role identities. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1976, 44, 183–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helmreich, R. L., Spence, J. T., & Wilhelm, J. A. A psychometric analysis of the Personal Attributes Questionnaire. Sex Roles, 1981, 7, 1097–1108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jourard, S. M. The transparent self. New York: Van Nostrand, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, K. A. Psychological perspectives on the Type A behavioral pattern. Psychological Bulletin, 1982, 91, 293–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreland, J. Age and change in the adult male sex role. Sex Roles, 1980, 6, 807–818.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreland, J., & Van Tuinen, M. The Attitudes Toward Masculinity Transcendence Scale. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, 1978.

  • Mosher, D. L., & Sirkin, M. Measuring a macho personality constellation. Journal of Research in Personality, 1984, 18, 150–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nie, N. H., Hull, C. H., Jenkins, J. G., Steinbrenner, K., & Bent, P. SPSS: Statistical package for the social sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Neil, J. M. Male sex-role conflicts, sexism, and masculinity: Psychological implications for men, women, and the counseling psychologists. Counseling Psychologists, 1981, 9, 61–80. (a)

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Neil, J. M. Patterns of gender role conflict and strain: The fear of femininity in men's lives. Personnel Guidance Journal, 1981, 60, 203–210. (b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Orlofsky, J. L. Relationship of sex role attitudes and personality traits and the Sex Role Behavior Scale-1: A new measure of masculine and feminine role behaviors and interests. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1981, 40, 927–940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J. H. The myth of masculinity. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J. H., & Brannon, R. (Eds.). Male roles and the male experience [Special issue]. Journal of Social Issues, 1978, 34(1).

  • Rubin, Z., Hill, C. T., Peplau, L. A., & Schetter, C. D. Self-disclosure in dating couples: Sex roles and the ethic of openness. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1980, 42, 305–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skovholt, T. M., Schauble, P. G., & David, R. (Eds.). Counseling men. Menlow Park, Calif: Brooks/Cole, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snell, W. E., Jr. Convergent and discriminant validity of the Masculine Role Inventory. Unpublished Manuscript, 1986.

  • Snell, W. E., Jr., Belk, S. S., & Hawkins, R. C. II. The Stereotypes About Male Sexuality Scale: Components, correlates, antecedents, and counselors' perceptions. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, San Antonio, Texas, April 1984.

  • Snell, W. E., Jr., Belk, S. S., & Hawkins, R. C. II. The masculine role as a moderator of stress-distress relationships. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Austin, Tex., April 1985.

  • Spence, J. T., & Helmreich, R. L. The Attitudes Toward Women Scale: An objective instrument to measure attitudes toward the right and roles of women in contemporary society. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 1972, 2, 66–67. (Ms. No. 153).

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R. L., & Sawin, L. L. The Male-Female Relations Questionnaire: A self-report inventory of sex-role behaviors and preferences, and its relationships to masculine and feminine personality traits, sex-role attitudes, and other measures. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 1980, 10, 87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R. L., & Stapp, J. The Personal Attributes Questionnaire: A measure of sex-role stereotypes and masculinity-femininity. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 1974, 4, 43. (Ms. No. 617).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, E. H., Grisanti, C., & Pleck, J. H. Attitudes toward the male role and their correlates. Sex Roles, 1985, 13, 413–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Villemez, W., & Touhey, J. A measure of individual differences in sex stereotyping and sex discrimination: The “Macho” Scale. Psychological Reports, 1977, 41, 414–415.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This article is based in part on a doctoral dissertation conducted under the supervision of Toni Falbo. Gratitude is extended to Mark R. Leary, William L. Hays, Ricardo Ainslie, Robert L. Helmreich, and Kathline Waddell for their many helpful comments, and to Raymond C. Hawkins II for his invaluable assistance. Portions of this data were presented at the 1983 annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, San Antonio, Texas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Snell, W.E. The masculine role inventory: Components and correlates. Sex Roles 15, 443–455 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287983

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287983

Keywords

Navigation