Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Psychology

Date of Award

8-2001

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Jon B. Ellis

Committee Members

James J. Fox III, Peggy J. Cantrell

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to research gender, affectional/sexual orientation, and sex roles to determine how people respond to the Expanded Reasons for Living Scale by Linehan, Goodstein, Nielsen, and Chiles (1983). This study used the Bem Sex Role Inventory, short form (Bem, 1981) to assess androgynous and nonandrogynous people.

Results from the statistical analysis revealed that bisexuals had the lowest reasons for living score followed by gay men/lesbians, and then heterosexuals on the Total RFL, as well as on the Responsiblility to Family and Moral Objections subscales. On the Child-Related Concerns subscale heterosexuals had a higher RFL score than both homosexuals and bisexuals. The Fear of Social Disapproval subscale revealed that heterosexuals and homosexuals were significantly higher than bisexuals. Androgynous people had a higher RFL on the Moral Objections subscale than nonandrogynous people and Androgynous women scored higher than nonandrogynous women on the Survival and Coping Belief subscale.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS