Masculinity Priming Testing the Causal Effect of Activating Subjective Masculinity Experiences on Self-Esteem

Most research on the link between masculinity-related constructs and psychology well-being has been conducted using correlational rather than experimental research designs. To address this limitation, this study tested the effects of activating men’s subjective masculinity experiences on state self-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of men's studies Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 98 - 106
Main Authors Wong, Y. Joel, Levant, Ronald F., Welsh, Matthew M., Zaitsoff, Andrew, Garvin, Matthew, King, Daniel, Aguilar, Michael
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2015
Sage Publications, Inc
Subjects
Analysis
Masculinity
Priming (Psychology)
Psychological aspects
Self esteem
Social aspects
priming
self-esteem
masculinity
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Summary:Most research on the link between masculinity-related constructs and psychology well-being has been conducted using correlational rather than experimental research designs. To address this limitation, this study tested the effects of activating men’s subjective masculinity experiences on state self-esteem by randomly assigning 183 men into either a masculinity priming condition or a control priming condition. Consistent with the social identity paradigm, participants who received masculinity priming reported higher state self-esteem than those in the control priming condition. A moderation effect showed that masculinity priming exerted the strongest effect on self-esteem among men with relatively negative self-perceptions. These findings are discussed within the context of the need for more experimental research on masculinity-related constructs.
ISSN:1060-8265
1933-0251
DOI:10.1177/1060826514561989