What Did You Call Me?' The Effect of Masculinity Threat on Men and Likelihood of Engaging in Risk-Taking Behaviors.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of masculinity threat on men’s self-reported tendency to engage in compensatory risk-taking behaviors to reestablish their masculinity. It is hypothesized that… In this experiment, 58 men from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI), and then received a threat to or confirmation of their masculinity. Subsequently, participants completed the domain specific risk-taking (DOSPERT) survey which measured the likelihood of engaging in risk-taking behaviors. As predicted, male participants who experienced the masculinity threat of reported strong intent to engage in risk-taking behaviors than did male participants whose masculinity was confirmed. The study provided insight into men’s value of their masculine identity, and when their masculinity was threatened, men were willing to engage in risk-taking compensatory behaviors to reestablish their masculinity.