INFLUENCE OF SEX ROLES ON MANIFESTATION OF LEADERSHIP

Investigated situational factors influencing the manifestation of dominance (Do) by pairing 80 undergraduates high and low on the CPI Do scale and having them interact in tasks in which 1 had to lead and the other follow. In experiments using a masculine industrial task and a sexually neutral clerical task, the following S pairs were studied: high and low Do men (Group 1), high Do men and low Do women (Group 2), high Do women and low Do men (Group 3), high and low Do women (Group 4). Assumption of leadership by the high Do women in Group 3 was significantly lower in both studies. This was attributed to sex role conflict inhibiting the manifestation of Do. Analyses of the decision-making process support this interpretation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.