Intrinsic and contextual experiences of masculinity threat: the role of precarious manhood beliefs

WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Emma Marioles O'Connor (Creator)
Institution
Western Carolina University (WCU )
Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
Advisor
Thomas Ford

Abstract: Previous research has found that men who adhere to precarious manhood beliefs (PMB) experience and respond to masculinity threat in a multitude of ways. In the present research, male participants imagine a female hiring manager, who perpetrates a masculinity threat, is offering them a position. In one condition, they begin negotiating a salary with the hiring manager. In the second condition, they begin negotiating a salary with a female human resources manager who did not witness or perpetrate a masculinity threat. The present study explores the experience of this threat by testing two competing hypotheses: (a) the intrinsic threat hypothesis, that suggests masculinity threats for men high in PMB are experienced as a threat to one’s stable definition of self and, (b) the contextual threat hypothesis, which suggests that threats to masculinity only threaten men’s view of the self within a specific relational situation or context. Neither the intrinsic or contextual threat hypotheses were supported. The results revealed no significant main or interaction effects of PMB, masculinity threat, or manager condition on symbolic aggression. A significant interaction effect of masculinity threat and manager condition was found on the manager favorability ratings.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2017
Keywords
gender, identity threat, masculinity, precarious manhood beliefs
Subjects
Men -- Psychology
Masculinity
Sex role
Gender identity
Threat (Psychology)

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