THE MEASUREMENT OF DOMINANCE IN PREGNANT-WOMEN BY USE OF THE SIMPLE ADJECTIVE TEST

The Simple Adjective Test was constructed using words denoting high and medium dominance, and high and medium submissiveness according to Russell and Mehrabian's (Journal of Research in Personality, 11, 273-294, 1977) three-factor theory of emotions. The test was administered to women in early pregnancy. Scores showed that women who later bore sons were significantly more likely (Mann-Whitney U, P < 0.03) to score highly on dominance than women who later gave birth to daughters. Problems in measuring dominance in pregnant and pre-pregnant women are discussed. © 1991.