This thesis describes an experimental study of the "motive to avoid success," as described by Matina Horner (1968), using sex, age, and sex of cues as independent variables. School-aged subjects (5th, 8th, 11th grade and college students) wrote stories in response to one of two written thematic apperceptive cues. The dependent measure was the…

Two explanations for the effects of fear of success (boundary maintenance theory and the sex-role prescription model) were investigated. Support for the study's hypotheses was not found; however, both explanations are relevant to the finding that participation in behavior perceived to be sex-role inappropriate plays a role in the fear of success…

In an experimental study, comparison with a high-ability same-sex other, even in a non-face-to-face and noncompetitive setting, created differences between the sexes in a range of achievement behaviors; comparison with a low-ability or average-ability same-sex other did not. (CMG)

The internal perceptions of students enrolled in voluntary and required physical education courses are compared, using the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, to each other and to expected norms. (JMF)

Presents questionnaire results concerning self-handicapping, course-related expectancies, and study habits. Reports that self-handicappers were more likely than others to make external and unstable attributions. Concludes that the underlying cognitive mechanism of self-handicapping strategies is a defensive attributional pattern that protects an…

Prior studies suggest that sex-role stereotypes influence responses to Horner's fear of success cue. This study investigates stereotypes about both sex roles and achievement settings. One hundred sixty college males and females wrote stories to different cues, then rated the masculinity-femininity of their story characters. Both "John and…

Research has reported relationships between fear of success and fear of failure and between fear of success and various sex-role identity factors. These relationships were examined for undergraduates (N=154) using the Fear of Success Scale (FOSS) to measure fear of success, the Debilitating Anxiety Scale (DAS) to measure fear of failure, and the…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the regional and sex differences of fear of success (FOS) imagery between black male and black female undergraduates attending two predominently black universities. The 258 respondents in this study were in general psychology and introductory sociology classes at one Northern and one Southern…

A comparison of two groups of 16 high school senior girls indicate that achievers aspire higher than underachievers in their educational goals, are more contemporary in and committed to their career goal choices than underachievers, and have a more contemporary view of women's role in society. (Author/EB)

Subject anxiety is a special case of general anxiety that is encountered by the adult learner in many traditional and nontraditional educational programs. The number of adult learners who require special treatment in order to avoid failure or course avoidance is significant. (Author/SSH)

Investigated whether certain early experiences could explain differences in adults' test anxiety, achievement motivation, and fear of success. These antecedent variables yielded five factors. Multiple regression analyses using these factors as predictors were not significant for achievement motivation or fear of success, but were significant for…

A Norwegian version of the Achievement Motives Scale (AMS) was administered to Oslo sixth-graders, along with verbal, numeric, test anxiety, and lie/defensiveness tests. Results showed the relationships to academic performance predicted by achievement theory. Even when related to the personality scales, the AMS showed promising qualities.…

Results of previous studies have demonstrated the prevalence of fear of success (FOS). Originally thought to be a gender-related construct pertaining to women, studies have also found FOS was experienced by men, sometimes even more so than by women. Recent researchers have attributed FOS more to the Bem Sex Role for individuals who are traditional…

Anticipation of negative consequences and sex role have both been found to contribute to fear of success (FOS). Specifically, research has found that expressive personalities (feminine) exhibit high FOS while instrumental personalities (masculine) exhibit low FOS. To demonstrate that values, especially those associated with sex roles, determine…

This study examines the relationship of sex-role orientation, among 218 female undergraduates, as measured by the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI), fear of success, and achievement motivation and performance. (Author/EB)