This study explores the notion of "fear of success" as a function of cultural expectations rather than as an intrapsychic motive held by women. A total of 476 male and female students (including 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th graders) were tested on semantic differential scales to gauge their reactions to the success or failure of a woman or a man. It was expected that the woman would not be rated negatively for failure. It was also expected that younger children would be more dogmatic than older children in applying cultural stereotypes to these situations. The children respond on semantic differential scales to the cue of Anne (John) succeeding (failing) in medical school. The children rated a successful person as much happier than one who failed, but the sex of the person succeeding or failing was entirely irrelevant. However, the results were as predicted for niceness: a woman was somewhat less nice than a man when they both succeeded, but a man was much less nice when they both failed. There were no interactions with age of sex of the respondents. The results were interpreted to suggest that sex-role expectations are relevant to some attributes of individuals but not to others, and that these expectations are well-established as early as third grade. (Author/BRT)