Citation

Rosenberg FR, Simmons RG. Sex Roles 1975; 1(2): 147-159.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF00288008

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper examines an aspect of the self-concept -- salience of the self or self-consciousness -- which has generally been neglected in the past. In an empirical study of nearly 2,000 children and adolescents, it was found that striking sex differences emerge during the adolescent period. Girls are considerably more self-conscious than boys, more vulnerable to criticism, and more concerned with promoting interpersonal harmony. Overall, adolescent girls are increasingly "people-oriented" while boys stress achievement and competence. It is suggested that these differences reflect the social definitions of sex roles.