Psychological Androgyny and Self-Actualization
The Bem Sex-role Inventory ( 1 ) classifies individuals inco three groups, masculine, androgynous, and feminine. Deviating from the traditional bl-polar masculine-feminine dimension Bern proposes a third possibility; the androgynous individual. This person is not constrained by either a highly masculine or highly feminine self-image, but can be either masculine or feminine depending upon the demands of the situation. Based on Bem's conception of the androgynous individual one would hypothesize that the androgynous person would be better adjusted and more self-actualizing than either the strongly masculine or feminine individual. The present study examined the relationship between masculine, androgynous, and feminine subjects as measured by the Bem Sex-role Inventory and self-actualization as measured by the Personal Orientation Inventory ( 2 ) . Subjects were 75 female undergraduate students taken from psychology classes at Ohio University. They were administered the Bern Sex-role Inventory and the Personal Orientation Inventory. Trichotomizing the Bern scores, subjects were divided inco three groups of 25: masculine (Bern t ratio -5.10 co +0.46), androgynous ($0.58 to +1.85), and feminine (+1.97 to f6 .15) . A one-way analysis of variance was done for each of the 14 Personal Orientation Inventory scales. The only significant F was obtained for the Acceptance of Aggression scale ( F 2 , i 2 = 4.87, p < .05). Using a planned comparison the masculine Acceptance of Aggression score ( M = 17.72 2 2.65) was significantly higher ( p < .01) than both the androgynous ( M = 15.72 f 2.74) and feminine (M = 15.24 f 2.52) Acceptance of Aggression scores. Contrary to prediction androgynous subjects scored no differently on the measures of self-actualization than either masculine or feminine subjects. The only exception being on the Acceptance of Aggression scale where as traditionally would be expected masculine subjects showed greater ability to accept anger and aggression within oneself. The present study does not appear to support the validity of the Bem Sex-role Inventory as a measure of psychological androgyny.