The effects of sex, self gender type, and partner's gender type on interpersonal adjustment during a first encounter: Androgynous and stereotypicaliy sex-typed couples

Abstract

The present study compared the effects of sex, self gender type, and partner's gender type on interpersonal adjustment during a 5-min first encounter of androgynous and stereotypically sex-typed couples. The 52 subjects were assigned to one of four mixed-sex couple types: sex-typed male and female (MF); sex-typed male and androgynous female (MA); androgynous male and sex-typed female (AF); and androgynous male and female (AA). Questionnaires (the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Iceberg Profile) and subjects' behaviors during the interaction were assessed. These data were analyzed by sex, self gender type and partner's gender type using a 2 × 2 × 2 analysis of variance. Our hypothesis that androgynous individuals may have better interpersonal relationships was supported by some of our findings. Androgynous individuals may have better interpersonal adjustment.