Overdoing Gender: A Test of the Masculine Overcompensation Thesis

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Overdoing GenderA Test of the Masculine
Overcompensation Thesis

• Robb Willer
• Cornell University

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Masculine Overcompensation Thesis

• Men react to masculine insecurity with extreme
  demonstrations of masculinity.

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Research Questions

• Do men overcompensate when faced with masculine
  insecurity?
• Do everyday examples of extreme masculinity
  originate in masculine insecurity?

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Freudian Reaction Formation

• Converting a socially unacceptable trait into its
  opposite (Baumeister et al.1998)
• More homophobic men also more aroused by
  homoeroticism (Adams, Wright, and Lohr 1996)

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Theoretical Background

• Theories of Masculinity (e.g. Connell 1987)
• Theories of Identity (e.g. Maass et al. 2003)

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Masculine Overcompensation

• Franz Neumanns analysis of the roots of 3rd
  Reich in WWI emasculation

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Masculine Overcompensation

• 2) (Big) Gun ownership

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Masculine Overcompensation

• 3) Operation Resolute Sword in Fallujah

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Still More Overcompensation

• 4) Men who buy big, powerful sports cars may be
  overcompensating

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Study Design

• Gender Identity Survey (Bem Sex Role Inventory)
• Survey Feedback (Gender Identity
  Confirming/Disconfirming)
• -This creates a 2 x 2 design. Participants
  Male/Female, Gender Identity Feedback
  Confirming/Disconfirming
• 3) Assessment of Dependent Measures

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Dependent Measures

• Interest in an SUV (Car-Buying Vignette
  Desirability, , Favorite, Likely to Buy)
• Support for Iraq War (Approve Bushs handling,
  Approve of Invasion)
• Homophobic Attitudes (Support Same-Sex Marriage
  Ban, Feel Homosexuality is Immoral, Support Gay
  Rights Movement)
• Persistence on a Strength Test

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Hypotheses

• Men given gender identity-disconfirming feedback
  will
• Hypothesis 1 Express greater interest in
  purchasing an SUV
• Hypothesis 2 Express greater support for violent
  military action
• Hypothesis 3 Express more negative attitudes
  towards homosexuality and
• Hypothesis 4 Persist longer on a test of
  strength.

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SUVs (Women)
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SUVs (Men)
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More DVs (Women)
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More DVs (Men)
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Conclusions

• Masculine Overcompensation thesis receives
  significant support
• Masculinity-insecure men also more ashamed,
  guilty, upset and hostile