THE EFFECTS OF SEX-TYPED TRAIT DESCRIPTIONS ON JUDGMENTS OF LIKEABLENESS

Abstract

The present study attempted to specify some of the conditions in which the use of sex-typed trait description would influence ratings of likeableness. Ninety male and 90 female subjects evaluated descriptions of stimulus persons varying in gender and sex role orientation. Female subjects rated masculine role descriptions less favorably than feminine or androgynous descriptions regardless of the gender ascribed to the stimulus person. Male subjects' judgments were influenced by the appropriateness of the gender of the stimulus person to the sex role of the description. Researchers should be aware that trait descriptions may have subtle sex role connotations which will influence subjects' judgments.