Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adolescent Perception of Peer Success: A Gendered Perspective over Time

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Adolescent males and females (grades 6–12) (n = 552) were presented with nine brief vignettes from the Teen Apperception Scale, describing high-achieving hypothetical female (or male) peers, across nine domains: leadership, academics, athleticism (two), musicianship, art, popularity, humor, and multitalentedness. Teens rated likability, popularity, and attractiveness of vignette subjects in each domain. The sample was roughly evenly divided by gender (47% male and 53% female); students ranged in age from 11 to 18 years. The sample was ethnically diverse, and the socioeconomic status of the students' families ranged from lower middle to upper middle class. MANOVA analyses showed female vignette subjects to be rated significantly higher than male subjects by both genders and all grade groupings, at p < .0001 overall, and at values ranging from p < .05 to p < .0001 for six of nine subscales. Results are contrasted with those from highly similar studies 30 years ago, and used to reflect a possible shift in attitudes toward high achievement in women.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

  • Boggiano, A. K., Main, D. S., & Katz, P. A. (1991). Mastery motivation in boys and girls: The role of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. Sex Roles, 25(9- 10), 511–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bornstein, R. F., Rossner, S. C., Hill, E. L., & Stepanian, M. L. (1994). Face validity and fakability of objective and projective measures of dependency. Journal of Personality Assessment, 63, 363–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady, K., Trafimow, D., Eisler, R., & Southard, D. (1996). The role of causal attributions in competitive situations. Sex Roles, 35(9- 10), 639–650.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broverman, I. K., Vogel, S. R., Broverman, D. M., Clarkson, F. E., & Rosenkrantz, P. S. (1972). Sex-role stereotypes: A current appraisal. Journal of Social Issues, 28(2), 59–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callahan, C. M., Cunningham, C. M., & Plucker, J. A. (1994). Foundations of the future: The socio-emotional development of gifted, adolescent women, Roeper Review, 17(2), 99–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, B. D. (1987). Current conceptions of sex roles and sex stereotyping: Theory and Research. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, D. A., Martin, J. M., Peeke, L. A., Seroczynski, A. D., & Fier, J. (1999). Children's over-and underestimation of academic competence: A longitudinal study of gender differences, depression and anxiety. Child Development, 70(2), 459–473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danzinger, N. (1983). Sex-related differences in the aspirations of high school students. Sex Roles, 9, 683–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deaux, K. (1984). From individual differences to social categories: Analysis of a decade's research on gender. American Psychologist, 39(2), 105–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunnell, P. A., & Bakken, L. (1991). Gifted high school students' attitudes toward careers and sex roles. Roeper Review, 13(4), 198–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaton, Y. M., Mitchell, M. L., & Jolley, J. M. (1991). Gender differences in the development of relationships during late adolescence. Adolescence, 26(103), 565–568.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eccles, J. S. (1987). Gender roles and women's achievement-related decisions. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 11(2), 135–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feingold, A. (1988). Cognitive gender differences are disappearing. American Psychologist, 43(2), 95–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald, L. F., & Crites, J. O. (1980). Toward a career psychology of women: What do we know? What do we need to know? Journal of Counseling Psychology, 27(1), 44–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan, R., & di Giuseppe, R. (1999). Critical review of the TEMAS: A step within the development of thematic apperception instruments. Psychology in the Schools, 36(1), 21–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foschi, M. (1996). Double standards in the evaluation of men and women. Social Psychology Quarterly, 59(3), 237–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fried-Buchalter, S. (1997). Fear of success, fear of failure, and the imposter phenomenon among male and female marketing managers. Sex Roles, 37(11- 12), 847–859.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, J. R. (1999). How to succeed in childhood. In S. J. Ceci & W. M. Williams (Eds.), The nature- nurture debate: Essential readings in developmental psychology (pp. 83–95). Malden, MA: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawley, P. (1971). What women think men think: Does it affect their career choice? Journal of Counseling Psychology, 18(3), 193–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hay, C. A., & Bakken, L. (1991). Gifted sixth grade girls: Similarities and differences in attitudes among gifted girls, non-gifted peers, and their mothers. Roeper Review, 13(3), 158–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, J. P., & Lynch, M. E. (1983). The intensification of gender-related role expectancies during early adolescence. In J. Brooks-Gunn & A. C. Peterson (Eds.), Girls at puberty: Biological, psychological, and social perspectives (pp. 201–228). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, D. C., & Eisenhart, M. A. (1990). Educated in romance: Women, achievement and the college culture. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollinger, C. L. (1991). Facilitating the career development of gifted young women. Roeper Review, 13(3), 135–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollinger, C. L., & Fleming, E. S. (1988). Gifted and talented young women: Antecedents and correlates of life satisfaction. Gifted Child Quarterly, 32, 254–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, M. (1969). Failing: Bright women. Psychology Today, 3(6), 36–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, M. (1972). Toward an understanding of achievement related conflicts in women. Journal of Social Issues, 28, 157–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ireland, M. S. (1993). Reconceiving women: Separating motherhood from female identity. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karnes, F. A., & D'Ilio, V. R. (1990). Sex-role stereotyping of leadership positions by student leaders. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 70(1), 335–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keating, D. P. (Ed.). (1976) Intellectual talent: research and development. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, B. (1983). Raising the career aspirations of gifted girls. Vocational Guidance Quarterly, pp. 37–43.

  • Kramer, L. R. (1991). The social construction of ability perceptions: An ethnographic study of gifted adolescent girls. Journal of Early Adolescence, 11(3), 340–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leroux, J. A. (1988). Voices from the classroom: Academic and social self-concepts of gifted adolescents. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 11(3), 3–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loo, Robert, & Thorpe, Karran (1998). Attitudes toward women's roles in society: A replication after 20 years. Sex Roles, 39(11- 12), 903–912.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luftig, R. L., & Nichols, M. L. (1990). Assessing the social status of gifted students by their age peers. Gifted Child Quarterly, 34(3), 111–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luftig, R. L., & Nichols, M. L. (1991). An assessment of the social status and perceived personality and school traits of gifted students by non-gifted peers. Roeper Review, 13(3), 148–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luthar, S. S., Zigler, E. & Goldstein, D. (1992). Psychosocial adjustment among intellectually gifted adolescents: The role of cognitive-developmental and experiential factors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 33(2), 361–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maines, D., & Hardesty, M., (1987). Temporality and gender: Young adults' career and family plans. Social Forces. 66(1), 103–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masling, J. M. (1997). On the nature and utility of projective tests and objective tests. Journal of Personality Assessment, 69(2), 257–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAninch, C. B., Milich, R., Crumbo, G. B., & Funtowicz, M. N. (1996). Children's perception of gender-role-congruent and-incongruent behavior in peers: Fisher-Price meets Price Waterhouse. Sex Roles, 35(9- 10), 619–638

    Google Scholar 

  • McCormick, M. E., & Wolf, J. S. (1993). Intervention programs for gifted girls. Roeper Review. 16(2). 85–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meara, N. M., & Day, J. D. (1993). Perspectives on achieving via interpersonal competition between college men and college women. Sex Roles. 28(1- 2), 91–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monahan, L., Kuhn, D., & Shaver, P. (1974) Intrapsychic versus cultural explanations of the “fear of success” motive. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29(1), 60–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monks, F., & Van Boxtel, H. (1995). Gifted adolescents: A developmental perspective. In J. Freeman (Ed.), The psychology of gifted children (pp. 275–295). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, P. R., & Newman, B. M. (1976). Early adolescence and its conflict: Group identity versus alienation. Adolescence. 11(42), 261–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble, K. D. (1989). Counseling gifted women: Becoming the heroes of our own stories. Journal for the Education of the Gifted. 12(2), 131–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Olds, D. E., & Shaver, P. (1980). Masculinity, femininity, academic performance and health: Further evidence concerning the controversy. Journal of Personality, 48(3), 323–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orenstein, P. (1995). School girls: Young women, self-esteem, and the confidence gap. New York: Doubleday.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pipher, M. (1994). Reviving Ophelia. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pomerantz, M., & Schultz, C. B. (1975). The reliability and validity of two objective measures of achievement motivation for adolescent females. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 35, 379–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quatman, T., & Watson, C. M. (in press). Gender differences in adolescent self-esteem: An exploration of domains. Journal of Genetic Psychology.

  • Reis, S. M. (1991). The need for clarification in research designed to examine gender differences in achievement and accomplishment. Roeper Review, 13, 193–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reis, S. M., & Callahan, C. M. (1989). Gifted females: They've come a long way—or have they? Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 12(2), 99–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodenstein, J., Pfleger, L., & Colangelo, N. (1977). Career development needs of the gifted: Special considerations for gifted women. Gifted Child Quarterly, 20, 340–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, B. C., & Aneshensel, C. S. (1978). Sex differences in the educational- occupational expectation process. Social Forces, 57(1), 164–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadd, S., Lenauer, M., Shaver, P., & Dunivant, N. (1978). Objective measurement of fear of success and fear of failure: A factor analytic approach. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46(3), 405–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg, D. E., Ehrhardt, A. A., Mellins, C. A., Ince, S. E., & Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L. (1987). The influence of individual and family characteristics upon career aspirations of girls during childhood and adolescence. Sex Roles, 16, 649–666.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegle, D., & Reis, S. M. (1998). Gender differences in teacher and student perceptions of gifted students ability and effort. Gifted Child Quarterly, 42(1), 39–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, L. K. (1994). The moral sensitivity of gifted children and the evolution of society. Roeper Review, 17(2), 110–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snipes, R. L, Oswald, S. L., & Caudill, S. B. (1998). Sex-role stereotyping, gender biases, and job selection: The use of ordinal logit in analyzing Likert scale data. Employee Responsibilities & Rights Journal, 11(2), 81–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. (1974). The thematic apperception test and attitudes toward achievement in women: A new look at the motive to avoid success and a new method of measurement. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42(3), 427–437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Subotnik, R. F., & Arnold, K. D. (1993). Longitudinal studies of giftedness: Investigating the fulfillment of promise. In K. A. Heller & F. J. Moenks (Eds.), International handbook of research and development of giftedness and talent (pp. 149–160). Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swim, J. K., & Sanna, L. J. (1996). He's skilled, she's lucky: A meta-analysis of observers' attributions for women's and men's successes and failures. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 22(5), 507–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, R. I. (1959). Historical review of objective personality testing: The search for objectivity. In B. M. Bass & I. A. Berg (Eds.), Objective approaches to personality assessment (pp. 1–23), New Jersey: Van Nostrand.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, L., & Nezlek, J. (1977). Sex differences in social participation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3, 742–754.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winner, E. (1996). Gifted children: Myths and realities. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Santa Clara University, USA

    Teri Quatman, Elizabeth Sokolik & Karin Smith

Authors
  1. Teri Quatman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elizabeth Sokolik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karin Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Quatman, T., Sokolik, E. & Smith, K. Adolescent Perception of Peer Success: A Gendered Perspective over Time. Sex Roles 43, 61–84 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007039712348

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007039712348

Keywords

Search

Navigation