This study assessed the impact of a 3-mo. meditation retreat on 15 respondents' self-perceived masculinity and femininity. As hypothesized, male and female subjects, who on pretest perceived themselves to be more stereotypically feminine than normative samples, on posttest reported a significant shift to even greater endorsement of feminine adjectives and less endorsement of masculine adjectives.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BemS. L.The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1974, 42, 155–162.
2.
BemS. L.Sex-role adaptability: one consequence of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1977, 45, 196–205.
3.
BemS. L.Gender schema theory: a cognitive account of sex typing. Psychological Review, 1981, 88, 354–364.
4.
NolanJ. D.Freedom and dignity: a functional analysis. American Psychologist, 1974, 29, 157–160.
5.
RaskinM.BaliL. R.PeekeH. V.Muscle biofeedback and Transcendental Meditation: a controlled evaluation of efficacy in the treatment of chronic anxiety. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1980, 37, 93–97.
6.
ShapiroD. H.Clinical and physiological comparison of meditation with other self-control strategies—biofeedback, progressive relaxation, hypnosis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1982, 139, 276–284.
7.
ShapiroD. H.ZifferblattS. M.Zen meditation and behavioral self-control: similarities, differences, and clinical applications. American Psychologist, 1976, 31, 519–532.
8.
SpenceJ. T.HelmreichR.The many faces of androgyny: a reply to Locksley and Colton. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 1032–1049.
9.
SpenceJ. T.HelmreichR.StappJ.Ratings of self and peers on sex-role attributes and their relation to self-esteem and conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 32, 29–39.
10.
StekR.BassB.Personal adjustment and perceived locus of control among students interested in meditation. Psychological Reports, 1973, 32, 1019–1022.
11.
WalshR.ShapiroD. H. (Eds.) Beyond health and normality: an exploration of exceptional psychological health. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1982, in press.