Gender and sex roles as predictors of self-disclosure

Previous research has found that gender differences in reported willingness to self-disclose depend on the intimacy of S's relationship with the target person. The authors tested the hypothesis that this effect is mediated by sex roles and holds only for Ss who have adopted traditional sex role...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of counseling psychology 1981-11, Vol.28 (6), p.510-514
Main Authors: Stokes, Joseph, Childs, Laurence, Fuehrer, Ann
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Human
Human Sex Differences
Intimacy
Self-Disclosure
Sex Roles
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Previous research has found that gender differences in reported willingness to self-disclose depend on the intimacy of S's relationship with the target person. The authors tested the hypothesis that this effect is mediated by sex roles and holds only for Ss who have adopted traditional sex roles as measured by the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI). 216 undergraduates participated. Results do not support the hypothesis, although BSRI scores were related to self-disclosure. Androgynous Ss reported more self-disclosure than all other Ss. Scores on the masculine dimensions of the BSRI predicted disclosure to strangers and acquaintances, but scores on both the masculine and feminine dimensions were needed to predict disclosure to intimate targets. It is suggested that intimate self-disclosures require both assertiveness associated with the traditional masculine role and the sensitivity and expressiveness associated with the traditional feminine role. (15 ref)
ISSN:0022-0167
1939-2168
DOI:10.1037/0022-0167.28.6.510