Biographical interviews elicited information concerning personality characteristics that predispose women toward achievement-striving behavior, taking into account the effects of family, friends, and role models. The majority of women reported not fearing success, but most wondered if their achievements were worth it and at what cost. (Author/ABB)

This study explored the relationships among birth order, number of course credits achieved, and personality integration for 56 women graduate students. No evidence of significant stress was found as these women approached career choice points, nor was there a significant effect from birth order. (Author/RD)

Mediocrity is a powerful force. But whatever its cause so far as education is concerned--be it rampant bureaucracy or pressure from teaching peers who feel threatened by excellence--mediocrity can be defeated, if teachers will stand up and refuse to bend to pressures to do less than their best. (Author/SJL)

This model postulates that because of women's socialization they lack strong expectations of personal efficacy in relationship to career-related behaviors, thus failing to realize their capabilities and talents. Sex differences in the access to and availability of information important to developing strong expectations of personal efficacy are…

Students wrote stories to sentence cues which described a stimulus person as succeeding or failing in one of six occupations. Success-approach and failure-avoidance imagery in the stories increased as the current male dominance of the occupation increased. Success-approach imagery appeared more often in females' stories. (Author/BEF)

A substantial portion of what has been interpreted as "fear of success" imagery of the Thematic Apperception Test is argued to involve anxiety about engaging in achievement activities traditionally considered to be inappropriate to one's sex role. (Author/JKS)

Neurotic fear of success is conceptually connected to achievement motivation and achievement related conflicts. To investigate the relationship between individuals identified as success-fearers, or failure-fearers, and those high in achievement motivation, 426 college students completed Cohen's Fear of Success Scale, Mandler-Sarason's Test Anxiety…

The effects of assigned status were investigated in same-sex competition with male (N=40) and female (N=80) college subjects. Those randomly assigned to high status improved in reaction time performance, while subjects randomly assigned to low status suffered a decrement. Contrary to expectations, in mixed-sex competition (fear of success arousal…

Male and female college undergraduates were classified according to Marcia's identity statuses (achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, and diffusion). Sex differences related to identity status, and relationship of identity status to achievement need, fear of success, fear of failure, and self esteem were also discussed. (CP)

Although the library field is heavily populated by women, management positions are largely held by men. While this imbalance is frequently attributed to such factors as social structure and traditional prejudices, writers on self-esteem generally agree that a positive self-concept is significant for women aspiring to library management positions.…

Investigated the relation between ego identity and fear of success using the Rasmussen Ego Identity Scale (EIS), the Marcia interview for identity status, the Cohen People Knowing Questionnaire (PKO) to measure fear of success, and an occupational behavior and attitude questionnaire. EIS and PKO scores correlated significantly with each other and…

Describes high school students' letters written to help their teacher interpret youth culture to college professors at an upcoming seminar. Essays reflected four themes: (1) a search for family, (2) identity problems and loneliness, (3) living with rapid change, and (4) fear of failure, especially in college. (2 references) (MLH)

This study investigated the relationship between Fear of Success (FOS) and Identity Status. Two groups of women, regular college age (18-23) and adult (over 30) were interviewed and completed measures of FOS. The hypothesis that adult students would exhibit less FOS than their college age counterparts was confirmed. (DWH)

Reports on a study of older, reentry students. Supplies data concerning faculty attitudes toward reentry and younger students, grade point averages of students taking more than six units, and fear of success among students aged 18-21, 21-30, and 30 and over. (DMM)

Examined predicted sex differences in occupational achievement motivation. Significant sex by occupation stereotype interactions were found supporting the prediction of highest achievement motivation toward sex appropriate occupations. Females did not show significantly lower motivation toward high prestige masculine occupations--inconsistent with…