Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Psychological Science

Department

Psychology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Garcia, Donna

Abstract

Manhood is a precarious state that is both sought and easily undermined and demands continual validation from public perceptions. Previous research shows that threats to one's masculinity often coerces reactions of bravado, aggression, and sexual risk-taking behaviors in men in an attempt to reestablish their manhood. However, little empirical attention is paid to deviations of such reactions as a result of varying self-concepts of masculinity and femininity, such as in gay men. In the current study, I explored the different ways in which self-identified masculine and feminine gay men navigate the volatile state of manhood, particularly when confronted with masculinity threats. I expected that for gay men, the association between masculinity threat and subsequent bravado and risk-taking behaviors would depend on whether they identify as masculine or feminine. In my study, gay men completed a measure of masculinity-femininity (with low scores indicating greater masculine identification) and a “personality test of gender identification)”. Half the men received false feedback that their score on a personality measure indicated they had a feminine gender identity (threat condition) and half received no feedback (control condition). I expected that in response to masculinity threat, gay men’s scores on a measure of masculinity-femininity (with lower scores indicating strong masculinity) would be associated with increases in aggressive thoughts (bravado), social dominance orientation, comfort with risky sexual behaviors, and trans negativity. My analyses provided partial support for my hypotheses. In the threat (but not the control condition), masculine identification was associated with increased social dominance orientation and negative attitudes towards both trans men and trans women. This pattern was not found for aggressive thoughts and sexual risk behavior measures.

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