COMPETENCE, CONFORMITY, AND PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS: THE IMPACT OF GENDER AND SEX ROLE

The present study examined the effects of gender, competence, sex role, and group surveillance on conformity. The BSRI (Bem, 1974) was used to measure subjects' sex role. Masculine, feminine, and androgynous subjects, randomly assigned to a high- or low-competence condition, were exposed to two conformity inductions, once with and once without group surveillance. Low-competent and feminine subjects conformed significantly more than other subjects. No other main effects or interactions had a significant effect on conformity. However, the competence manipulation was subject to both gender and sex-role effects. Results are discussed in light of recent research on sex differences in conformity, moral development, and expectations for success.