Abstract
This study compared projective and objective measures of fear of success (FOS) with each other and with a measure of sex-role orientation as alternative predictors of 309 college women's achievement behavior on masculine and feminine tasks. Neither the sex role nor the FOS measures predicted substantial performance differences on the masculine or feminine tasks, although the objective FOS scales and the Bem Sex Role Inventory did predict subjects' stated investment in the task and attributions for success in a manner generally consistent with FOS theory. In addition, the objective FOS scales showed strong relationships with achievement motivation and sex-role orientation, while TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) FOS was unrelated to either of these variables. The results provide partial support that objective FOS scales tap actual avoidance tendencies characteristic of traditionally feminine women, while the TAT measure reflects, at most, an ambivalence over success which may be equally characteristic of high achieving, nontraditional women and low achieving, traditional women.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alper, T. G. Achievement motivation in college women: A now-you-see-it-now-you-don't phenomenon. American Psychologist, 1974, 29, 194–203.
Alpert, R., & Haber, R. N. Anxiety in academic achievement situations. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1960, 61, 207–215.
Atkinson, J. W. (Ed.), Motives in fantasy, action, and society. Princeton, N.J.: Van Nostrand, 1958.
Bem, S. L. The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1974, 42, 155–162.
Bem, S. L. Sex role adaptability: One consequence of psychological androgyny. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 31, 634–643.
Bem, S. L. On the utility of alternative procedures for assessing psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1977, 45, 196–205.
Bem, S. L., & Lenney, E. Sex typing and the avoidance of cross-sex behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976, 33, 48–54.
Cabellero, C. M., Giles, P., & Shaver, P. Sex role traditionalism and fear of success. Sex Roles, 1975, 1, 319–326.
Condry, J., & Dyer, S. Fear of success: Attribution of cause to the victim. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 47–62.
Feather, N. T., & Simon, J. G. Causal attributions for success and failure in relation to expectations of success based upon selective or manipulation control. Journal of Personality, 1971, 39, 527–541.
Good, L. R., & Good, K. C. An objective measure of the motive to avoid success. Psychological Reports, 1973, 33, 1009–1010.
Heilbrun, A. B., Jr., Kleemeier, C., & Piccola, G. Developmental and situational correlates of achievement behavior in college females. Journal of Personality, 1974, 42, 420–436.
Hoffman, L. W. Fear of success in males and females: 1965 to 1972. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1974, 42, 353–358.
Horner, M. Sex differences in achievement motivation and performance in competitive and noncompetitive situations. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan, 1968.
Horner, M. Toward an understanding of achievement-related conflicts in women. Journal of Social Issues, 1972, 28, 157–175.
Makosky, V. P. Sex role compatibility of task and of competitor, and fear of success as variables affecting women's performance. Sex Roles, 1976, 2, 237–248.
Mehrabian, A. Measures of the achieving tendency. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1969, 29, 445–451.
Orlofsky, J. L. Identity formation, nAchievement, and fear of success in college men and women. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 1978, 7, 49–62.
Orlofksy, J. L. Sex-role orientation, identity formation, and self-esteem in college men and women. Sex Roles, 1977, 3, 561–575.
Orlofsky, J. L., Aslin, A. L., & Ginsburg, S. D. Differential effectiveness of two classification procedures on the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1977, 41, 414–416.
Orlofsky, J. L., & Windle, M. T. Sex-role orientation, behavioral adaptability, and personal adjustment. Sex Roles, 1978, 4, 801–811.
Pappo, M. Fear of success: An empirical and theoretical analysis. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1972.
Parker, V. J. Fear of success, sex role orientation of the task, and competition condition as variables affecting women's performance in achievement oriented situations (Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 1971). Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms, 1971, No. 72-9593.
Peplau, L. A. Impact of fear of success and sex role attitudes on women's competitive achievement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976, 34, 561–568.
Shaver, P. Questions concerning fear of success and its conceptual relatives. Sex Roles, 1976, 2, 305–320.
Sorrentino, R. M., & Short, J. A. Effects of fear of success on women's performance at masculine versus feminine tasks. Journal of Research in Personality, 1974, 8, 277–290.
Spence, J. T. The Thematic Apperception Test and attitudes toward achievement in women: A new look at the motive to avoid success and a new method of assessment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1974, 42, 427–437.
Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R., & Stapp, J. Ratings of self and peers on sex role attributes and their relation to self-esteem and conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 32, 29–39.
Tomlinson-Keasey, C. Role variables: Their influence on female motivational constructs. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1974, 21, 232–237.
Tresemer, D. The cumulative record of research on “fear of success.” Sex Roles, 1976, 2, 217–236.
Zuckerman, M., & Allison, S. N. An objective measure of fear of success: Construction and validation. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1976, 40, 422–430.
Zuckerman, M., & Wheeler, L. To dispel fantasies about the fantasy-based measure of fear of success. Psychological Bulletin, 1975, 82, 932–946.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The research reported here was supported by Grant 1 R03 MH 28835-01 from the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Orlofsky, J.L. A comparison of projective and objective fear-of-success and sex-role orientation measures as predictors of women's performance on masculine and feminine tasks. Sex Roles 7, 999–1018 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288501
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288501