Gender Differences In Relational Versus Achievement Influences On Self-esteem

1. Gender Differences In Relational Versus Achievement Influences On Self-esteem Rick L. Payne, B.A., B.S. Department of Psychology, University of Dayton

2. Introduction • According to Erik Erikson, one‘s experiences in relationship do not form the basis for the development of one’s identity, as the basic underpinnings of one’s identity are thought to be consolidated prior to the point when a person’s attention shifts toward enhancing intimacy with others (Erikson, 1950).

3. Introduction (Continued) • Nancy Chodorow, Carol Gilligan, and the Women of the Stone Center believe that there are (1) fundamental differences between men and women in the nature of self-concept, and (2) that our society tends to overemphasize the agentic ethic at the expense of the communal ethic and therefore may be missing an integral part of women’s self-development.

4. Introduction (continued) • Many studies have been performed to examine whether gender differences exist in self-concept or identity, and mixed results have been found. • Most studies on gender differences in self-esteem indicate that males possess higher self-esteem than females. • Another common finding with regard to self-esteem and gender differences is that males and females demonstrate high self-esteem when maintaining culturally defined gender roles .

5. Introduction (continued) • It has also been reported that high self-esteem for both females and males was related to agentic traits where individual goals are demonstrated. • Inconsistencies across the studies remain, and an explanation for this may be that men are not entirely agentic and women are not entirely communal, but that it is more a matter of degree.

6. Hypotheses • Females will experience greater decreases in mood and self-esteem following criticism from acquaintances than males. • Females will experience greater increases in mood and self-esteem following praise from acquaintances than males. • No difference between males and females in changes in mood or self-esteem will be observed following scenarios pertaining to loved ones.

7. Hypotheses (continued) • Those that are higher in femininity will experience greater decreases in mood and self-esteem following criticism from acquaintances than those with higher degrees of masculinity. • Those that are higher in femininity will experience greater increases in mood and self-esteem following praise from acquaintances than those with higher degrees of masculinity. • No difference in mood or self-esteem will be observed between those that are higher in masculinity and those that are higher in femininity following scenarios pertaining to loved ones.

8. Method • I will survey a sample of 50 males and 50 females from the University of Dayton. • Participants will complete a measure of sex-role identity, as well as pre-test measures of mood and self-esteem. • Next, participants will be randomly assigned to vividly imagine and write about a scenario in which they were either praised or criticized by a loved one or acquaintance. • Lastly, participants will re-complete the mood and self-esteem measures.

9. Method (continued) • Participants will be administered measures of the following variables: • Self-esteem • Sex-role identity • Mood

10. Proposed Analyses • Preliminary analyses will be carried out in order to examine the relationship between demographic variables (age and race) and dependent variables (change in mood and self-esteem). • A 2x2x2 factorial ANOVA design will be used to conduct a total of four equations. • In the first three, I will examine the significance of the Gender (male or female) x Hedonic tone (positive or negative ) x Depth (acquaintance or close) interaction on either changes in positive mood, negative mood, or self- esteem. • The second three equations will be of the same form but substituting gender with sex-role identity. • Only participants high in masculinity or femininity will be used in these analyses.

11. Proposed Analyses (continued) • In the first three equations, I expect to find significant Gender x Hedonic Tone x Depth interactions. • I will then examine the patterns of means of the changes in self-esteem or changes in mood across the six groups. • As stated previously, I hypothesize that, in the acquaintance condition, women will experience greater decreases in self-esteem or mood following a criticism. • Conversely, in the acquaintance condition, women will experience greater increases in self-esteem or positive mood following praise. The reverse pattern is expected for negative mood. • No differences between men and women are predicted in the “loved one” conditions. • A similar pattern of means is expected when computing the same analyses, but substituting sex-role identity for gender.

12. Independent Variables = Gender (male or female) x Depth (acquaintance or loved one) x Hedonic Tone (praise or criticism) Dependent Variable = Self-esteem

13. Independent Variables = Gender (male or female) x Depth (acquaintance or loved one) x Hedonic Tone (praise or criticism) Dependent Variable = Positive Mood

14. Independent Variables = Gender (male or female) x Depth (acquaintance or loved one) x Hedonic Tone (praise or criticism) Dependent Variable = Negative Mood