Kala Downs

Publication Date

1995

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Gold, Steven R.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Men--Psychology; Blame--Sex differences; Anger--Sex differences; Distress (Psychology)--Sex differences

Abstract

Research has demonstrated an association between the hypermasculine personality pattern and history of sexually aggressive behavior. This study was conducted to examine emotions experienced by hypermasculine or macho men when prevented from attaining a goal relevant to their sense of attractiveness and sexuality by a woman. It was hypothesized that macho males would respond to high and moderate threats to their masculine identity with greater blame and anger than non-macho males. Macho men's blame was hypothesized to mediate the transformation of negative emotions such as distress into anger. After screening with the Hypermasculinity Inventory, 34 high hypermasculine and 36 low hypermasculine men were assigned to one of three experimental conditions in which the feedback received from a female partner was either highly threatening, moderately threatening, or neutral in nature. Measures of emotion and blame were collected after the men received their feedback. Results of the study indicated that macho and non-macho men differed only in the moderate threat condition. Macho men in this condition reported greater anger yet less blame than the non-macho men. The pattern of results is most consistent with Berkowitz's cognitive-neoassociationistic model of emotion, which does not require blame for anger to occur, as does Lazarus' cognitive- motivational-relational theory of emotion. Results of the study suggest that anger in macho men is associated with the level of surprise in a situation.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [98]-102).

Extent

132 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS