Skip to main content
Log in

The Relation Between Chosen Role Models and the Self-Esteem of Men and Women

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate choice of role models and levels of self-esteem within a sample of college students (N = 120). Participants rated themselves and their chosen role models on 29 character traits, which allowed determination of the self-perceived likeness of the participant to their role models (difference score). The difference score was then correlated with four subtypes of self-esteem. As predicted, participants chose more same-sex than other-sex role models; women were more likely than men to choose other-sex role models. The results indicated that choice of same-sex, as opposed to other-sex role models, is not indicative of higher levels of self-esteem in general. However, self-perceived likeness of role model to participant is significantly related to self-esteem, particularly for women.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

references

  • Basow, S. A., & Howe, K. G. (1980). Role-model influence: Effects of sex and sex-role attitude in college students. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 4 (4), 558-572.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coopersmith, S. (1987). Self-Esteem Inventories. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, L. A. (1985). Dimensions of same-gender student–faculty role-model relationships. Sex Roles, 12, 111-123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hackett, G., Esposito, D., & O'Halloran, M. S. (1989). The relationship of role model influence to the career salience and educational and career plans of college women. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 35, 164-180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harter, S. (1999). The construction of the self: A developmental perspective. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, W., & McCoy, N. (2000). Self-confidence, self-Esteem and assumption of sex role in young men and women. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 90, 751-756.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knox, M., Funk, J., Elliott, R., & Bush, E. G. (1998). Adolescents' possible selves and their relationship to global self-esteem. Sex Roles, 39, 61-80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koffman, S., & Lips, H. M. (1980). Sex differences in self-esteem and performance expectancies in married couples. Social Behavior and Personality, 8, 57-63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lane, G. G., White, A. E., & Henson, R. K. (2002). Expanding reliability generalization methods with KR-21 estimates: An RG study of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 62, 685-711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, P., & Kunda, Z. (1997). Superstars and me: Predicting the impact of role models on the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 91-103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, P., & Kunda, Z. (1999). Increasing the salience of one's best selves can undermine inspiration by outstanding role models. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76, 214-228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mack, M. G., Schultz, A. M., & Araki, K. (2002). Role models in self-esteem of college women. Psychological Reports, 90, 659-664.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magee, T. (2000). The moderating effect of athletic participation on aggression and self-control in non-athletic social situations. Unpublished manuscript, University of Alabama.

  • Mruk, C. (1999). Self-Esteem: Research, theory, and practice (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ochman, J. (1996). The effects of nongender-role stereotyped, same-sex role models in storybooks on the self-esteem of children in grade three. Sex Roles, 35, 711-733.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orr, E., & Ben, E. E. (1993). Gender differences in idiosyncratic sex-typed self-images and self-esteem. Sex Roles, 29, 271-296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orvaschel, H., Beeferman, D., & Kabacoff, R. (1997). Depression, self-esteem, sex, and age in a child and adolescent clinical sample. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 26, 285-289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettus, M. (2001). Kudos for me: Self-Esteem. In J Robert-McComb (Ed.), Eating disorders in women and children: Prevention, stress management, and treatment (pp. 283-289). Miami, FL: CRC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Post, P., & Robinson, B. E. (1998). School age children of alcoholics and non-alcoholics: Their anxiety, self-esteem, and locus of control. Professional School Counseling, 1 (5), 36-40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shisslak, C., Crago, M., Renger, R., & Clark-Wagner, A. (1998). Self-Esteem and prevention of eating disorders. Eating Disorders, 6, 105-118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L. (1999). Adolescence (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesser, A. (1986). Some effects of self-evaluation maintenance on cognition and action. In R. M. Sorrentino & E. T. Higgins (Eds.), The handbook of motivation and cognition: Foundations of social behavior (pp. 435-464). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesser, A., & Campbell, J. (1983). Self-definition and self-evaluation maintenance. In J. Suls & A. Greenwald (Eds.), Social psychological perspectives on the self (pp. 1-31). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trankina, M. (1992). Racio-ethnic differences in confidence in science. Psychological Reports, 71, 235-242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, A. (1994). Pride and prejudice in high school gang members. Adolescence, 29, 279-291.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John E. Lochman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wohlford, K.E., Lochman, J.E. & Barry, T.D. The Relation Between Chosen Role Models and the Self-Esteem of Men and Women. Sex Roles 50, 575–582 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SERS.0000023076.54504.ca

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SERS.0000023076.54504.ca

Navigation