Psychological androgyny and the Masculinity?×?Femininity interaction.

Clarifies 3 proposed models of psychological androgyny, since recent discussions have been flawed by misunderstandings of the nature of statistical interaction. The additive model predicts main effects of masculinity (M) and femininity (F). The balance model predicts only M?×?F interaction. The emergent properties model predicts by effects and M?×?F interaction. The interaction effect assessed in a 2?×?2 ANOVA by a multiplicative M?×?F term in regression is compared with the absolute value of the M?×?F difference in regression. It is concluded that ANOVA and multiplicative interaction terms are generally satisfactory operationalizations of balance (though each has strengths and weaknesses), whereas the absolute difference term yields unpredictable results and should be avoided in most situations. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)