Abstract:
When adult men are made to feel gender-atypical, they often lash out with aggression, particularly when they are pressured (vs. autonomously motivated) to be gender-typical. Here, we examined the development of this phenomenon. Specifically, we provided a first experimental test of whether threatening adolescent boys\' perceived gender typicality elicits aggression as a function of their pressured (vs. autonomous) motivation to be gender-typical. We also investigated whether this causal link emerges as a function of boys\' chronological age versus pubertal development. Participants were a geographically diverse sample of 207 adolescent US boys (ages 10-14; 23.2% boys of color) and one of their parents. Boys played a \"game\" and received randomly-assigned feedback that their score was atypical versus typical of their gender. For boys in mid-to-late puberty (but not before), feedback that they are gender-atypical predicted an aggressive reaction, particularly among boys whose motivation to be gender-typical was pressured (vs. autonomous). Next, we explored which aspects of boys\' social environments predicted their pressured motivation to be gender-typical. Boys\' pressured motivation was positively correlated with their perceptions that their parents and peers would be \"upset\" if they deviated from gender norms, as well as with their parents\' endorsement of so-called hegemonic beliefs about masculinity (i.e., that men should hold power over women). Parents with these beliefs resided in more conservative areas, had less formal education, and had lower incomes. Our results inform theorizing on gender identity development and lay the foundation for mitigating the harmful effects of gender typicality threat among adult men. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Similar to young adult men, adolescent boys in mid-to-late puberty (but not before) responded with aggression to perceived threats to their gender typicality. Aggression was heightened among boys whose motivation to be gender-typical was pressured (i.e., driven by social expectations) rather than autonomous. Which boys showed pressured motivation? Those whose parents endorsed hegemonic beliefs about masculinity (e.g., that men should have more power than people of other genders). Hegemonic beliefs about masculinity were strongest among parents who resided in more conservative US counties, had less formal education, and had lower incomes.
摘要:
当成年男子感到性别不典型时,他们经常用侵略来猛烈抨击,特别是当他们受到压力时(与自主动机)是性别典型的。这里,我们研究了这种现象的发展。具体来说,我们提供了第一个实验测试,以评估威胁性青春期男孩的性别典型性是否会引起攻击性作为他们压力的函数(vs.自主)的动机是性别典型的。我们还调查了这种因果关系是否与男孩的实际年龄和青春期发育有关。参与者是207名美国青春期男孩(10-14岁;23.2%的有色男孩)及其父母之一的地理样本。男孩玩了“游戏”,并收到了随机分配的反馈,即他们的得分是非典型的与典型的性别。对于青春期中后期的男孩(但不是之前),他们是性别非典型的反馈预测了一种攻击性反应,特别是在性别典型动机受到压力的男孩中(与自主)。接下来,我们探讨了男孩社会环境的哪些方面预测他们的压力动机是性别典型的。男孩的压力动机与他们的看法呈正相关,即如果他们偏离性别规范,他们的父母和同龄人将“沮丧”。以及他们的父母对所谓的关于男子气概的霸权信仰的认可(即,男人应该掌握女人的权力)。有这些信念的父母居住在更保守的地区,受过较少正规教育,收入较低。我们的结果为性别认同发展提供了理论指导,并为减轻成年男性中性别典型性威胁的有害影响奠定了基础。研究重点:类似于年轻成年男子,处于青春期中后期(但不是之前)的青春期男孩对感知到的对其性别典型性的威胁做出了侵略。在性别典型动机受到压力的男孩中,攻击性加剧(即,受社会期望驱动)而不是自主的。哪些男孩表现出压力的动机?那些父母认可关于男性气质的霸权信念的人(例如,男人应该比其他性别的人拥有更多的权力)。在居住在更保守的美国县的父母中,关于男性气质的霸权信念最为强烈,受过较少正规教育,收入较低。