Suzanna Rose

Young singles' contemporary dating scripts

Single womens and mens scripts for a hypothetical and actual first date were investigated for a sample of 135 predominately white undergraduates. Strong scripts were found for both. Hypothetical scripts contained 19 actions for women and men; actual dates consisted of 20 actions for women and 15 for men. Hypothetical scripts constituted a core action sequence that were embellished upon in actual dates. Gender-typed actions were evidenced as strongly for actual dates as hypothetical ones. A proactive male role and a reactive female role were reflected in script content as well as quantitative measures. Actual dates also were characterized by numerous interruptions of the hypothesized sequence.

Same- and cross-sex friendships and the psychology of homosociality

The present study investigated the homosocial preferences and the functions, formation, and maintenance characteristics of same- and cross-sex friendships for a sample of 90 young adults, ages 20 to 28 years. Single women and married participants of both sexes evidenced a definite preference for same-sex friendships. The expectations associated with same-sex friendship functioning were found to be similar for both sexes. Cross-sex friendships were reported by both women and men as providing less help and loyalty than same-sex relationships. Otherwise, cross-sex friendship functioning was described by men as closely resembling same-sex friendships, but women reported cross-sex relations as providing less acceptance, less intimacy, and more companionship than same-sex ones. Friendship formation and maintenance for same- and cross-sex friendships were also found to differ significantly. The results are discussed in terms of Lipman-Blumens [In M. Blaxall & B. Reagan (Eds.), Women and the workplace. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1976, pp. 15–32] theory of homosociality.

Dating Aggression Among Low Income African American Youth An Examination of Gender Differences and Antagonistic Beliefs

Prevalence of aggression inflicted and sustained in dating relationships was investigated for 171 low income African American youth. More women were victims of choking, attempted forced intercourse, and hurt feelings. As perpetrators, more women reported making threats, throwing objects, and hitting their partner. However, men perpetrated more serious sexual and psychological aggression, including forced breast fondling, attempted forced intercourse, and making a partner feel inferior and degrading her. Women victims of sexual aggression, when compared to nonvictims, expressed more agreement with adversarial sexual beliefs regarding male-female relationships. More than one third of the participants endorsed antagonistic beliefs concerning Black male-female relationships. Suggestions for intervention are presented.

Keeping and Ending Casual, Close and Best Friendships

Strategies for maintaining and ending casual, close and best friendships were investigated using a sample of ninety young adults, aged twenty to twenty-eight. As hypothesized, best friendships were regarded as more self-maintaining, more based on affection and less affected by a decrease in contact than close friendships, which in turn were more dependent on affection and interaction and less dependent on proximity than casual friendships. Best and close levels were more clearly differentiated for hypothetical cases of friendship than for actual ones. Life-stage and sex also affected friendship conceptions. The implications of the friendship level results for friendship research methodology are discussed.

Feminism and psychology: analysis of a half-century of research on women and gender.

Starting in the 1960s, feminists argued that the discipline of psychology had neglected the study of women and gender and misrepresented women in its research and theories. Feminists also posed many questions worthy of being addressed by psychological science. This call for research preceded the emergence of a new and influential body of research on gender and women that grew especially rapidly during the period of greatest feminist activism. The descriptions of this research presented in this article derive from searches of the journal articles cataloged by PsycINFO for 1960-2009. These explorations revealed (a) a concentration of studies in basic research areas investigating social behavior and individual dispositions and in many applied areas, (b) differing trajectories of research on prototypical topics, and (c) diverse theoretical orientations that authors have not typically labeled as feminist. The considerable dissemination of this research is evident in its dispersion beyond gender-specialty journals into a wide range of other journals, including psychologys core review and theory journals, as well as in its coverage in introductory psychology textbooks. In this formidable body of research, psychological science has reflected the profound changes in the status of women during the last half-century and addressed numerous questions that these changes have posed. Feminism served to catalyze this research area, which grew beyond the bounds of feminist psychology to incorporate a very large array of theories, methods, and topics.

Heterosexism and the Study of Women's Romantic and Friend Relationships

The study of womens relationships has been guided by cultural scripts that are deeply heterosexist. In this article, the impact of cultural scripts on the research agenda is explored concerning two aspects of romantic and friend relationships: sexuality and relationship development. Research on lesbians is used to demonstrate how the inclusion of sexual orientation in relationship research challenges heterosexist assumptions and provides new directions for research.

How Friendships End: Patterns among Young Adults

College womens and mens retrospective accounts of recently terminated or deteriorated close same-sex friendships and changes in their friendship networks over the past five years were examined. Four patterns of friendship dissolution were identified: physical separation, new friends replace old, growing to dislike the friend, and interference from dating or marriage. The transition to college resulted in a higher rate of deteriorated friendships than was evident during the high school years, particularly for women. Significant gender differences in patterns of termination were also found: physical separation was more likely to precipitate dissolution in mens friendships, and dating or marriage was more likely to interfere with womens. The results are discussed in terms of how the experiences of the young adult life stage might result in the termination patterns observed.

The Impact of Group Membership on Lesbians' Physical Appearance

Abstract The impact of lesbian group membership upon physical appearance was examined among 81 young lesbians (ages 18-30) who participated in a questionnaire study. Most participants indicated making distinct but modest changes in their physical appearance after coming out as lesbians. These changes were in the direction of their pre-coming out conceptions of lesbians as being butch or androgynous in appearance. A majority reported cutting their hair shorter, wearing more comfortable shoes, or adopting a less traditionally feminine appearance after coming out. Participants also said they significantly less often wore dresses, used makeup, and shaved their legs and underarms. A significant decrease in body weight concern also occurred after coming out. Other changes in physical appearance are discussed. Participants believed that the changes were influenced by the opinions of other lesbians, their desire to signal prospective partners, and by becoming more comfortable with themselves. Implications of these results are discussed in terms of peer group norms, group identity, and sexual signaling.

Psychological Distress, Crime Features, and Help-Seeking Behaviors Related to Homophobic Bias Incidents

Psychological distress, crime features, and help-seeking behaviors of homophobic bias incidents were explored using a convenience sample of 290 lesbian, gay, and bisexual participants. A majority of the sample (73%) indicated they had been the target of at least one homophobic incident. Participants provided a detailed account of their most serious incident of homophobic victimization. Victims of homophobic sexual assaults reported significantly more posttraumatic stress symptoms than victims of bias threats, victims of other bias acts, or nonvictims. Bias sexual assaults also were more likely to involve a known perpetrator, multiple perpetrators, and previous bias incidents. Bias physical assault victims more often had a history of at least one incident of nonbias violence. Sexual and physical assault victims were more likely to report the incident and to seek other types of help. The results indicate that certain crime types and features result in more psychological distress for bias victims.

Sex and race discrimination resulting from manager-client relationships: Applying the rational bias theory of managerial discrimination

Rational bias theory predicts that discrimination may be situationally influenced by circumstances in which a show of bias seems likely to be rewarded or punished by others. This study applies the theory in an examination of managerial sex and race discrimination in situations in which normative or unusual signals are given. In agreement with rational bias theory, the participants, acting in the role of managers, indicated that they would be less likely to discriminate in personnnel decisions with cues indicating that discrimination might not be needed or wanted. The results are interpreted as supportive of rational bias theory and as useful for the design of new policies aimed at ending discrimination. The findings also suggest that the importance of discrimination against blacks of both sexes in management has been widely ignored.