Predicting Ambivalent Sexism With Social Dominance Orientation, Cognitive Flexibility and Precarious Manhood

Abstract

The aim of the current thesis was to investigate the impact of social dominance orientation, cognitive flexibility, and precarious manhood on ambivalent sexism, in a research sample of men aged between 18-35. Additionally, this study sought to identify the predictive power of sociodemographic variables (relationships status, age, education status) on research variables. A convenience sample of volunteers 452 men were participants in the study. Ambivalent Sexism Scale (ASI), Social Dominance Orientation Scale (SDO7), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), Perceived Threat to Manhood Scale (PTTMS) and demographic information form were used as data collection instruments. Data analyses were conducted by the SPSS 29 software package, by using multiple linear regression analyses. In addition, to test whether there is a significant difference in the ambivalent sexism, benevolent sexism and hostile sexism according to participants’ relationship status, age and education, independent group t-test and ANOVA analysis were conducted. The result of multiple linear regression indicated that SDO total score, CFI total score, and PTTMS total score were significant positive predictors of ambivalent sexism. As social dominance orientation and precarious manhood increase, ambivalent sexism also shows an increase. To further investigate predictor variables' influence on ambivalent sexism, two additional linear regressions have been conducted for two subfactors of AS. Social dominance orientation, cognitive flexibility, and precarious manhood have been identified as significant positive predictors of hostile sexism. Benevolent sexism, on the other hand, is significantly posivitely predicted by the total scores of social dominance orientation and precarious manhood. Findings and limitations have been discussed in the light of the relevant literature, and recommendations have been provided to researchers and practitioners.