Abstract
In the present study 33 adult women completed Horner's measure of fear of success, filled out a questionnaire that tapped sex-role traditionalism and negative attitudes toward the women's liberation movement, and answered questions concerning their political beliefs and educational backgrounds. In line with some of Horner's contentions, it was found that fear of success is more common among nontraditional women — those who favor the women's movement, have more education, and hold liberal or radical political beliefs. Fear of success is not a correlate of traditional femininity but rather a sign of conflict experienced by ambitious, nontraditional women. Implications and further questions are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. Opportunities for women in higher education. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1973.
Hoffman, L. W. Fear of success in males and females: 1965 and 1971. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1974, 42, 353–358.
Horner, M. S. Femininity and successful achievement: A basic inconsistency. In J. Bardwick, E. M. Douvan, M. S. Horner, and D. Gutman (Eds.), Feminine personality and conflict. Belmont, California: Brooks-Cole, 1970.
Horner, M. S. Toward an understanding of achievement-related conflicts in women. Journal of Social Issues, 1972, 28, 157–175.
Horner, M. S., Tresemer, D. W., Berens, A. E., and Watson, R. I., Jr. Scoring manual for an empirically derived scoring system for motive to avoid success. Unpublished monograph, Harvard University, 1973.
Horner, M. S. The measurement and behavioral implications of fear of success in women. In J. W. Atkinson and J. O. Raynor (Eds.), Motivation and achievement. Washington, D. C.: V. H. Winston and Sons, 1974.
Monahan, L., Kuhn, D., & Shaver, P. Intrapsychic versus cultural explanations of the “fear of success” motive. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1974, 29, 60–64.
Spence, J. The Thematic Apperception Test and attitudes toward achievement in women: A new look at the motive to avoid success and a new method of measurement. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1974, 42, 427–437.
Tavris, C. Woman and man: A questionnaire and survey report. In C. Tavris (Ed.), The female experience. Del Mar, California: CRM Publishers, 1973.
Tresemer, D. Fear of success: Popular but unproven. In C. Tavris (Ed.), The female experience. Del Mar. California: CRM Publishers, 1973.
Winchel, R., Fenner, D., & Shaver, P. Impact of coeducation on “fear of success” imagery expressed by male and female high school students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 1974, 66, 726–730.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Now at New York University.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Caballero, C.M., Giles, P. & Shaver, P. Sex-role traditionalism and fear of success. Sex Roles 1, 319–326 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287223
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287223