Sex role identity in young adults: Its parental antecedents and relation to ego development.

Examined how ego development and socialization experience interact in relation to sex-role identity (SRI). 60 male and 60 female 22–26 yr olds completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory and J. H. Block's (unpublished) childrearing practices report. Both measures were scaled so as to yield scores on agency, communion, and androgyny. Ss also completed the Sentence Completion Test of Ego Development. Analyses revealed that the predictive power of the variables differed by sex. Ego development was predictive of SRI in males but not females, whereas socialization practices were predictive of SRI in females but not males. Results support N. Chodorow's (1974) position regarding the differing socialization experiences of men and women. (49 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intimacy maturity and its correlates in young married couples.

Intimate relationships, like the individuals who participate in them, are conceived of as following developmental processes. Five dimensions of intimacy—relationship orientation, caring–concern, commitment, sexuality, and communication—are identified, and an approach to assessing relationship maturity on each of these dimensions is described. In a study of 31 young married couples, scores on each dimension of intimacy maturity were analyzed in relation to gender, gender role (as assessed through an adaptation of the Bem Sex Role Inventory), and scores of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. There were no significant differences between husbands and wives on any of the intimacy or marital adjustment scales and only a marginal difference on 1 gender role scale (agency). Patterns of correlations among intimacy, marital adjustment, and gender role scores varied by gender. Not only do there appear to be 2 marriages (his and hers) in every marriage (as suggested by J. Bernard [1982]), but the correlates of these marriages also vary. (58 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)