Managerial Status, Sex, and Selected Personality Characteristics

Abstract

Relationships among managerial status, sex, and the traits of aggression, dominance, achievement-orientation, and nurturance were investigated in an attempt to obtain insight into the validity of the male managerial stereotype. Sixty-six sets of individuals matched by organization and department participated in the study. Each set consisted of a male and female manager and a male and female nonmanager. Results for high achievement, high dominance, and low nurturance support the managerial stereotype. There was little support for the male managerial stereotype, since these traits appear to be associated with both males and females who have attained a managerial position.