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Description:
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Individuals use various influencing strategies during decision -making processes in close relationships . Use of these strategies is based on past experiences and outcome expectancies and is structured by cognitive formations called a schema . Some research suggests that individuals have schema that are formed by gender -based assumptions which reflect expectancies regarding typical and appropriate behavior for males and females in close relationships . These expectations may affect perceptions of interactions in close relationships . A typical gender -schema includes an imbalance of power which may be reflected in an individual's selection of influencing strategies , with women using weak and males using strong strategies . In this context , collusion may exist to maintain a culturally appropriate balance of power which is facilitated by a gender -schema .
The present study tested four hypotheses designed to investigate the following phenomena : the impact of gender -schema processing and sex of subject on the family of origin functioning , influencing strategies and collusion in close relationships . A sample of 180 male and 180 female college students enrolled in introductory psychology and human sexuality courses completed the Hem Sex Role Inventory which assesses gender schematic tendencies in individuals . Subjects were given a scenario involving two script characters engaged in a social decision -making process . Each character used one of several influencing styles . Subjects then rated the script characters using the Adjective Checklist , the Impact Message Inventory (IMI ) , and indicated their perceptions of script characters behavior . Finally , subjects completed the Family Environment Scale which measures family -of -origin authoritarian , submissive and cooperative styles . Conclusions are drawn regarding the identification and evaluation of influencing strategies as these processes are influenced by gender and gender schema . Implications for inter -gender collusion are discussed . |