Psychology of Gender Chapter 6

Some women who start out in traditionally masculine fields leave those domains for more traditionally feminine pursuits.

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The fear of success literature was and still is quite controversial. There is concern with the validity of the pejorative tests that were first used to identify a fear of success in women. However, self-report instruments still show that women more than men associate success with negative consequences

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Achievement motive was measured by peoples responses to

Thematic apperception test (TAT)

Part of sex difference in self confidence is due to women

appearing less confident

fear of success

as the association of negative consequences with achievement

stereotype threat is the idea that activating a stereotype may

create a concern with confirming the stereotype and thereby interfere with performance.

The basic concern is that achievement is inconsistent with the female gender role. Females are concerned that attaining high levels of achievement will have social costs

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2nd conflicted with

gender role

Men scored high

in achievement motivation

The effects of stereotype threat may be nullified by discounting the stereotype

indicating that the stereotype is due to effort rather than ability or educating people about stereotype threat

People who have a fear of success are capable of high achievement but associate negative consequences with achievement

j

Sex differences in self-confidence seem to be limited to

masculine task

the effects of stereotype threat on those who strongly identity with a domain

may be transient if they discount the validity of a poor performance

Women are ______ reluctant than men to display confidence when they have outperformed another person

more

1st requirement for fear of success

must perceive achievement as possible

Stereotype threat may interfere with

performance by reducing cognitive capacity and or by increasing anxiety

1st. women were not motivated in the

science area

person who fears achievement does not

seek out failure

achievement motive

stabel personality characteristic that reflects the tendency to strive for success

The major factor that influences sex differences in self confidence is

the nature of the task

2nd requirement for fear of success

the person must associate achievement with negative consequences

Stereotype threat

theory that activating the female stereotype hinders women performance

combination of women being _______ and men being ________

under-confident; overconfident

Achievement motivation did not predict these same outcomes in

women

_____ tend to underestimate their performance and lack self confidence

women