Androgyny

Question 1

What is androgyny

Answer 1

Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in ones personality

Question 2

What is the Ben Sex Role Inventory (BSRI)

Answer 2

The first systematic attempt to measure androgyny using a rating scale to produce scored across two dimensions- masculine-feminine and androgynous-undifferentiated

Question 3

How was the BSRI developed

Answer 3

Sandra Bem (1974)
- 100 American undergraduates were asked which personality traits they thought were desireable for men and women
- the list was narrowed to include 20 masculine traits, 20 feminine traits and 20 neutral traits
- each person rates themselves on a 7-point likert scale and given scores of masculinity, femininity, undifferentiated or androgynous

Question 4

What are the BSRI classifications

Answer 4

• high masculine, low feminine= masculine
• high feminine, low masculine= feminine
• high masculine, high feminine= androgynous
• low feminine, low masculine= undifferentiated

Question 5

What did the findings from the BSRI reveal

Answer 5

Bem suggested that high androgyny is associates with psychological wellbeing as individuals who are (psychologically) both masculine and feminine are better equipped to adapt to a range of situations

Question 6

What impact does androgyny have on psychological health according to Bem

Answer 6

People who are androgynous are psychologically healthier