Effects of Sex-Role Stereotypes and Androgynous Alternatives on Mental Health Judgments of Psychotherapists

Research and theoretical notions on the relationship between mental health and androgyny have yielded contradictory statements. In the present study 42 practicing psychotherapists were asked to rate the mentally healthy person (sex unspecified), man, and woman on the Bem Sex-role Inventory. Analysis showed that masculine was the preferred category for the person, with androgynous more often used to describe the man and undifferentiated, the woman. Male and female ratees differed significantly in masculinity and femininity in the expected direction with the person midway between. Sex-role stereotyping remains prevalent among mental health professionals.