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Abstract

Using developmental stage theory as a framework, the author assessed the sex-role attitudes and sex-role identity of 253 college students. A relationship between cross-sex identity and flexible sex-role attitudes was postulated. The relationship was significant for both sexes. The author predicted that new attitude groups would be older, but this relationship was significant for females only. Males and females reported significant differences in parental sex-role reinforcement in the areas of emotionality and aggression but not for independence and adventuresomeness. As predicted, males with traditional attitudes reported significantly greater parental reinforcement of same-sex-typed behaviors than males with new attitudes. There were no differences for female groups.

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Developmental Sex-Role Theory and Sex-Role Attitudes in Late Adolescents

Abstract

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