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Postulating a negative bias towards social ambiguity, we conducted cross‐cultural online research to assess whether categorical discrepancies in the perception of androgynous faces were associated with the uncanny feeling and inferences of different morality. Across four studies, we found that androgynous faces were harder to classify into a binary sex category than sex‐typical faces, but this difficulty did not influence social judgements of androgynous targets in a negative fashion. In Study 1 (Spanish‐speaking sample, N = 76), we found that androgynous faces were rated as more trustworthy, less creepy, and less morally different than sex‐typical faces. Study 2 replicated most of the findings from Study 1 in an Italian sample (N = 45). Positive bias towards androgyny was not replicated with a different set of stimuli featuring faces of diverse ethnic backgrounds (Study 3, Spanish‐speaking sample, N = 140). However, results revealed a main effect of ethnicity in participants' responses. When controlling for the effect of morphing procedures in stimuli selection, an overall positive bias towards androgynous targets arose, especially when compared to masculine targets (Study 4, Spanish‐speaking sample, N = 85). These findings suggest that, at least in certain conditions, a positive social bias towards androgynous faces may emerge that does not depend on categorical uncertainty and facial attractiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this qualitative and quantitative research paper is to explore the occurrences and relations of the anima, animus and androgynous in dreams, with particular emphasis on the consideration of the androgynous in the human psyche. The sample consists of 9 series of dreams (141 dreams in total), from 9 dreamers, 7 women (female sex/gender) and 2 men (male sex/gender), aged 25–57, heterosexual, undergoing Jungian psychotherapy, and presenting couple‐related themes. Statistical results and qualitative analysis offer new input for the re‐vision of the classical anima‐animus model, and the addition of in‐depth explorations into the androgynous, paving the way for a new model of psychopathology and psychotherapeutic clinical work, in transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most animals, competition for mating opportunities is higher among males, whereas females are more likely to provide parental care. In few species, though, these "conventional" sex roles are reversed such that females compete more strongly for matings and males provide most or all parental care. This "reversal" in sex roles is often combined with classical polyandry—a mating system in which a female forms a harem with several males. Here, we review the major hypotheses relating such role reversals to evolutionary and behavioural traits (anisogamy, phylogenetic history, sexy males, parental care, genetic paternity, trade‐off between mating and parenting, adult sex ratio) and to ecological factors (food supply, offspring predation). We evaluate each hypothesis in relation to coucals (Centropodinae), a group of nesting cuckoos of great interest for mating system and parental care theory. The black coucal (Centropus grillii) is the only known bird combining classical polyandry with altricial development of young, a costly trait with regard to parental care. Our long‐term study offers a unique possibility to compare the strongly polyandrous black coucal with a monogamous close relative breeding in the same area and habitat, the white‐browed coucal (C. superciliosus). We show that the evolution of sex roles in coucals and other animals has many different facets. Whereas phylogenetic constraints are important, confidence in genetic paternity is not. In combination with facilitating ecological conditions, adult sex ratios are key to understanding sex roles in coucals, shorebirds, and most likely also other animals. We plead for more studies including experimental tests to understand how biased adult sex ratios emerge and whether they drive sexual selection or vice versa. How do sex ratios and sexual selection interact and feedback on each other? Answers to these questions will be fundamental for understanding the evolution of sex roles in mating and parenting in coucals and other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines Kpop (Korean pop music) in the 21st century. Particular focus is given to how many male Kpop singers are often called "Flower Boys" because of their androgynous appearance and behavior, including cross-dressing. Additional topics discussed include how this behavior relates to the notion of queerness, drag queen shows in Western culture including the television series "RuPaul's Drag Race," and Korean pop musicians including Tamin and VIXX.

The author discusses musical transitions in popular (pop) music in 1981 that reflected the queer culture of the time. Topics include queer themes in post disco and post punk music, androgynous and ambiguous performers such as Prince and Grace Jones, and British pop music performers with queer themes in their music like Pete Shelley. The songs "Cruisin' the Streets" by Boys Town Gang and "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie are analyzed.

Matthew Woo is now at the Department of Psychology, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. Professor Oei is also Director, CBT Unit, Toowong Private Hospital.Previous research measuring various biosocial factors such as age, sex, and marital status has found them to be essentially unrelated to measures of psychological health. Recent empirical studies have revealed that personality constructs may be more significant than demographic variables in the prediction of psychological well‐being. The present study assessed the personality constructs of masculinity and femininity and hypothesized that the Gender‐Masculine (GM) scale of the MMPI‐2 would be more effective than the Gender‐Feminine (GF) scale in predicting psychological well‐being. This hypothesis stems from previous research that has indicated the dominance of the masculinity model. It is suggested that previous research supporting androgyny as a primary indicator of well‐being was influenced by the masculinity component of this gender orientation. One hundred and seventy‐seven psychiatric patients from Australia ( N = 107) and Singapore ( N = 70) completed the MMPI‐2. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed significantly stronger masculinity effects, with significance achieved on measures of ego strength and low self‐esteem. No significant relationship between psychological well‐being and the GF variable was found. Similarly, androgyny did not add any further variance to the model when masculinity was controlled for. Overall, the results are consistent with an interpretation that GM is a better correlate of psychological well‐being as compared to the GF scale. Les études antérieures mesurant divers facteurs biosociaux tels que l'âge, le sexe et le statut conjugal ont révélé que ces facteurs sont essentiellement non reliés aux mesures de santé psychologique. Des études empiriques récentes ont montré que les construits de personnalité peuvent être plus significatifs que les variables démographiques dans la prédiction du bien‐être psychologique. La présente étude a évalué les construits de personnalité de masculinité et de féminité en posant l'hypothèse que l'échelle de genre masculin (GM) du MMPI‐2 allait être plus efficace que l'échelle de genre féminin (GF) pour la prédiction du bien‐être psychologique. Cette hypothèse est basée sur une recherche antérieure qui a indiqué une dominance du modèle de Masculinité. Il est suggéré qu'une recherche antérieure qui soutient l'Androgynéité comme indicateur premier de bien‐être était influencée par la composante de masculinité de cette orientation de genre. Cent soixante‐dix‐sept patients psychiatriques d'Australie ( N = 107) et de Singapour ( N = 70) ont complété le MMPI‐2. Une régression hiérarchique multiple a révélé des effets de la masculinité significativement supérieurs en regard des mesures de Force de l'ego et de Faiblesse de l'estime de soi. Aucune relation significative ne fut trouvée entre le bien‐être psychologique et la variable GF. De façon similaire, l'Androgynéité n'a pas ajouté de variance au modèle lorsque la masculinité était contrôlée. En somme, les résultats soutiennent l'interprétation que le GM est davantage associé au bien‐être psychologique que le GF. La investigación antecedente que mide diversos factores biosociales como la edad, el sexo, y el estatus marital ha encontrado que esencialmente no se relacionan con medidas de salud psicológica. Algunos estudios empíricos recientes han revelado que los constructos de personalidad parecen predecir de manera más importante el bienestar psicológico que las variables demográficas. El presente estudio evaluó los constructos de personalidad masculinidad y femineidad y plantea como hipótesis que la escala (GM) Género Masculino del MMPI‐2 predice con mayor efectividad el bienestar psicológico que la escala (GF) Género Femenino. Esta hipótesis surge de la investigación previa que ha señalado la dominancia del modelo Masculino. Se sugiere que el componente de masculinidad de esta orientación de género influyó sobre la investigación antecedente que apoya la androginia como indicador primario de bienestar. Ciento setenta y siete pacientes psiquiátricos de Australia ( N = 107) y Singapur ( N = 70) respondieron al MMPI‐2. Una regresión múltiple jerárquica reveló que los efectos de la masculinidad significativos más fuertes se observaron con las medidas de la Fuerza del Ego y Autoestima Baja. No se encontró que hubiese relación significativa entre el bienestar psicológico y la variable GF. De manera similar, la androginia, al controlarse la masculinidad, no añadió varianza al modelo. En general, los resultados coinciden con la interpretación de que la escala GM, en comparación con la GF, es un mejor correlato del bienestar psicológico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined gender-role flexibility across a variety of stressful events, and tested two proposed hypotheses that explicate the processes underlying gender-role flexibility. Theknowing-more hypothesisposits that androgynous individuals have a broad coping repertoire. Theknowing-how hypothesisposits that androgynous individuals know how to cope according to changing situational characteristics. The coping responses of Chinese university students were assessed in both real-life (Study 1) and hypothetical (Study 2) stressful situations. Results revealed that androgynous participants, who were less depressed than others, were characterized by (a) cognitive astuteness in distinguishing among situational characteristics and (b) deployment of strategies that fit specific situational demands. Results supported theknowing-how hypothesisonly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The familiality of infant sleeping heart rate (HR) and cardiac-related autonomic activity, as indexed by spectral analysis of HR variability (HRV) and response to postural change, was investigated in 322 5-month-old twin pairs. The postural change elicited only minor changes in cardiovascular activity. As a result, analyses focused on supine cardiovascular activity. Multivariate genetic modeling indicated that individual differences in sleeping HR and high frequency (HF) HRV were determined by unique environmental and distinct additive genetic factors. These variables, along with low frequency (LF) HRV, were also affected by overlapping familial environmental influences. Familial influences in HF HRV were more pronounced for baby girls than boys. Estimates of relative LF and HF HRV were determined by common (familial) and unique environmental factors; familial influences on these estimates did not overlap with familial influences on sleeping HR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an experiment, job description and applicants' attributes were examined as moderators of the backlash effect, the negative evaluation of agentic women for violating prescriptions of feminine niceness (Rudman, 1998). Rutgers University students made hiring decisions for a masculine or “feminized” managerial job. Applicants were presented as either agentic or androgynous. Replicating Rudman and Glick (1999), a feminized job description promoted hiring discrimination against an agentic female because she was perceived as insufficiently nice. Unique to the present research, this perception was related to participants 'possession of an implicit (but not explici0 agency-communality stereotype. By contrast, androgynous female applicants were not discriminated against. The findings suggest that the prescription for female niceness is an implicit belief that penalizes women unless they temper their agency with niceness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to examine whether a high level of masculinity is associated with the Type A behavior pattern, and whether the level of femininity moderates any main effect for masculinity. The subjects were 743 male and 560 female undergraduate students. In the statistical analysis, we found evidence of the masculinity effect on every Type A score, and a moderating effect of femininity on the "speed-power" subscale score. We discuss the validity of four models of the functions of masculinity and femininity, and consider the moderating effect of femininity in the light of the interactive androgyny model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between creativity and androgyny was studied in 163 women and men with the Creative Functioning Test (CFT) and the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). A 2 (femininity: high/low) X 2 (masculinity: high/low) X 2 (sex) ANOVA was conducted on subjects’ CFT scores. A significant interaction effect between femininity and masculinity was found showing that subjects high on both femininity and masculinity (androgynous) and low on both scales (undifferentiated) reached higher CFT scores than female-typed and male-typed subjects. Further, a significant three-way interaction including sex of subject indicated that the former two-way interaction was accounted for by men only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study compared the effects of sex, self gender type, and partner's gender type on interpersonal adjustment during a 5-min first encounter of androgynous and stereotypically sex-typed couples. The 52 subjects were assigned to one of four mixed-sex couple types: sex-typed male and female (MF); sex-typed male and androgynous female (MA); androgynous male and sex-typed female (AF); and androgynous male and female (AA). Questionnaires (the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Iceberg Profile) and subjects' behaviors during the interaction were assessed. These data were analyzed by sex, self gender type and partner's gender type using a 2 &times: 2 &times 2 analysis of variance. Our hypothesis that androgynous individuals may have better interpersonal relationships was supported by some of our findings. Androgynous individuals may have better interpersonal adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Moral Approval or Aggression Inventory (MAAI) and Bem's Sex Role Inventory (BSRU were administered to three experimental groups: officer trainees (= OTs, n = 48), conscientious objectors to military service (= COs, n = 35), and to a group of women of comparable age (n = 32). Aggression was mostly approved of among OTs and the least among COs, the women scoring in the middle somewhat closer to OTs. Differences in choice of sex role identity emerged, so that OTs often chosen a masculine sex role, while for COs, the choice of an androgynous role was the most frequent one. Women chose feminine and androgynous roles with equal frequency. Moral approval of aggression could not be explained on the basis of sex role Identification. The strongest determinator of moral approval of aggression was the choice of refusal to engage in military service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female high and low self-monitors were interviewed by a female experimenter who adopted either an androgynous or a feminine guise. An analysis of responses scored for femininity yielded a significant interaction between self-monitoring and interviewer guise which, when subjected to further analysis, revealed a significant simple effect for high self-monitors but not for low self-monitors. High self-monitors scored significantly higher on femininity when with the feminine guise interviewer, but lower when with the androgynous guise interviewer. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of gender attributes, masculinity and femininity, has comprised a major research program in twentieth-century psychology. Historical examination reveals that this research program has produced not cumulative discovery but a pattern of repetition and reification. Researchers have repeatedly attempted to ensure the reality of masculinity and femininity, and have even introduced methodological techniques that privilege their observational statements on that reality. Similar patterns have occurred in the case of androgyny research, despite expectations that the androgyny construct would remedy the shortcomings of masculinity and femininity concepts. When analyzed in historical context, these gender concepts are found to share ethnopsychological origins-roots in social practices and prescriptions. Contextual analysis also provides telling details about researchers normative interests. If we choose to terminate such fruitless ventures and to generate novel understandings of the social world, then we must undertake critical self-appraisal and adopt a new metatheoretical grounding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined the hypothesized relationship among counselor androgyny, counselor flexibility, and the establishment of client-rated working alliances. In Study 1, 41 counseling students completed the Bern Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bern, 1981a) and the Counselor Behavior Analysis Inventory (Gabbard, Howard, & Dunfee, 1986). Contrary to the hypothesis, there was no relationship between androgyny and counseling flexibility. In Study 2, 42 counseling students completed the BSRI and videotaped counseling sessions with a recruited client. Analyses revealed a significant relationship between counselor flexibility and client ratings of working alliance, but no relationship between counselor androgyny and counselor flexibility. Research and clinical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The androgyny model of masculinity and femininity serves as the basis for a framework for sex role counseling applicable to both sexes. A conceptualization of individual differences in sex role-related characteristics suggests criteria for personal sex role adjustment other than universal conformity to traditional sex role requirements. It is suggested that consistency among an individual's feminine and masculine self-attributions, sex role ideals, environmental demands with their accompanying rewards and costs, and the behavioral repertoire available for dealing with current situations is needed for a comfortable sense of self as a woman or man. Examples of sex role problems, counseling goals, and interventions are described within this framework. Sex role counseling thus requires a clear comprehension of the impact of sex roles on a personal level.
This article builds on present literature on sex roles to provide one such preliminary, integrative framework for discussing clients' sex role concerns, appropriate counseling goals, and examples of counseling interventions. I have distilled this framework from an extensive review of the literature on psychological androgyny (Cook, 1985b), and I am indebted to Garnets and Pleck's (1979) excellent analysis of real self-concept, same-sex ideal discrepancies, sex role strain, and sex role salience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although psychological androgyny is a useful and attractive concept for many counselors, a review of the literature suggests that androgyny cannot now serve as a concrete goal for sex-role counseling. It may also pose its own problems for individuals.
In my view, androgyny's popularity has outstripped its actual usefulness to counselors as a goal of sex-role counseling. The concept may provide a useful shorthand for what many clients are moving away from, in their exploration of sex-role issues. A review of recent androgyny literature, however, will show that understanding of androgyny's characteristics is too uncertain to provide a concrete picture of what clients may become as a result of counseling. Conclusions drawn from the literature will also suggest that androgyny best represents another sex-role alternative rather than an ideal, and thus may pose its own problems for individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author presents some ideas derived from observation in analysis about differing positions of Freud and Jung on perversion and about probable differences in perverse structural elements of women in contrast to men. In general perversion is understood as a defence of the self; in particular with women it is seen as a defensive way of achieving a false wholeness, a pseudo-androgyny. A case study describes the unfolding of a perverted transference. The importance of reaching the analyst and being understood by the analyst through projective identification is stressed. Quite often a sexually abusing mother seems to play an important role in generating female perversion; the implications in analysis are discussed as well as some ideas about culture and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional assumption that males should be employed to counterbalance the "feminized" environment in early education was challenged. A series of studies were reported which did not support this stance. An argument was made for the recruitment of androgynous men to break the stereotype, perpetuated in the educational literature and the media, that the male is valued solely for his macho image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of the present investigation are to examine theoretical issues in androgyny theory by testing the effect of participation in the Outward Bound program on measures of masculinity (M) and femininity (F) Bipolar conceptualizations of MF posit that an increase in either M or F must lead to a decrease in the other, whereas androgyny theory posits M and F to be independent constructs Consistent with a priori predictions based on the nature of the Outward Bound program, participation substantially enhanced M and had a small positive effect on F The results were reasonably consistent for male and female participants, for single-sex and mixed-sex groups, and across responses to three different MF measures Results support the androgyny interpretation of MF and demonstrate the effectiveness of the Outward Bound program in changing MF The results contradict the bipolar perspective that an increase in M must be accompanied by a decrease in F [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article cites two studies which investigated personality adjustment differences in the Bem masculinity and feminity scales. The first study compared the adjustment values of the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) Masculinity and Femininity scales and their individual items, using 40 mental health workers as judges. It was also determined that if differences in the adjustment ratings of the scales emerged, modified Masculinity and Femininity scales, matched for mental health value, will be developed. The relationships of vocational and personal adjustment variables to masculinity, femininity, androgyny and undifferentiatedness, as defined by the original and the modified scales, then were to be compared in a second study. When categorized by the original BSRI scales, the authors' masculine and androgynous samples produced healthier scores than their feminine and undifferentiated groups on a modest number of measures. These findings are similar to those reported in earlier research. However, when individuals with invalid Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories were deleted, the sizes of the observed differences decreased, perhaps because of relationships between the BSRI scales and social desirability.

The article focuses on androgyny, stereotypy and the perception of female threapists. Researchers assessed effects of therapist gender, experience and self-disclosure on perceived expertness, social attractiveness, and trustworthiness. Among other findings they reported that female experts were perceived as more expert than female nonexperts, but male experts and nonexperts were not differentially perceived. Results indicate that the perception of trustworthiness in female therapists is moderated by the sex role orientation.

This article reports a study assessing the level and interrelation of psychological adjustment and sex-role affiliation as determined by the PRF Androgyny Scale in an alcoholic population. This study was conducted over 123 alcoholic males who agreed to take part in a 1-year, evaluation research program at the Lexington, Kentucky. The PRF Androgyny Scale, recently developed to assess sex-role affiliation, contains two separate scales that were created to measure masculine and feminine attributes. based on results, it was revealed that sex-role category was not related significantly to social and/or demographic variables such as marital status, education, recent employment status, and occupation. Moreover, sex-role type was not associated with behavioral manifestations common to the disorder of alcoholism and its severity.

This article presents information on Bern sex-Role Inventory (BSRI). The BSRI has been presented as an instrument that allows one to measure an aspect of sex roles that is not tapped by more tradi tional MF scales. This unique quality of the BSRI is said to be the result of three important features that distinguish it from other, commonly used MF scales. In most of the research that involves items that relate to sex roles, items have been chosen on the basis of their differential endorsement by males and females or on the basis of the fact that males and females earn significantly different scores on those items. The implication of using this method to select sex-role-related items is that the items so selected will be different items than would have been selected on the basis of their differential endorsement by males and females.

The Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI), the recently developed measure for psychological androgyny, was administered to 344 middle-Tennessee high school and university students. The BSRI's reliability coefficients and mean scores were very similar to those reported earlier for California junior college and university students, respectively. The present scoring patterns for the BSRI remained unchanged with the introduction of the four "familial context" variables of sex of Ss' siblings, sex of Ss' nearest-in-age sibling, parent whom the Ss considered emotionally warmest, and parent whom the Ss would most prefer to be like. Contrary to Bem's original findings, the present results with the BSRI suggested that Ss' responses to the measure may be affected by the social desirability phenomenon. Moreover, scores on the BSRI did not correlate consistently or highly with those presently obtained with a symbolic sex-role measure and a verbal sex-role scale. This lack of construct validity has been reported previously in at least two other studies. Though apparently reliable, the validity of the BSRI remains problematic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing changes in the roles of men and women, it has become important to gain a clearer understanding of the factors that influence sex-role development. This article is directed to teachers and contains suggested activities that will assist students in gaining insight into the processes of sex-role development. To provide background for the activities, relevant research and theoretical perspectives are briefly reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on gender and sexuality topics which include gender inequalities In India, effect of gender son social development in Latin America, and impact of formal education on the development of androgyny.

In this article the author discusses her relationship with a middle aged woman named Annette. Annette was a very attractive, middle aged woman, who had been selected for the advanced training program. There were three advanced trainees. They spend at least 10 hours together each week with various staff members, in addition to a heavy case load. The meetings were intensive, requiring group participation enhanced by personal disclosure. The author and Annette also attended a voluntary therapy group led by outside professional. Annette and the author started hating each other. How could a person who could not get along with the other person train to be a psychotherapist. Finally one of the author's clinical supervisor announced that he was fed up with the behavior of both the ladies. He advised not to take every thing personally. This is what is called therapy training. The author tried not to take things personally. She learned to distance herself and let go, became more task oriented rather than personal and became more androgynous. This opened more opportunities. She gained confidence in doing group work.