Title

Gender differences in the factors affecting helpless behavior and performance

Abstract

The University of Mississippi This study used a laboratory experiment with data collected from 84 undergraduate business students to examine the impact of sex, sex-role identity, sex of experimenter, and quality of information on helpless behavior and performance. Although no sex differences were found, results showed sex-role identity differences in learned helplessness and performance. Specifically, when participants were most helpless, androgynous and undifferentiated participants performed at the highest levels. Less helplessness was also experienced when participants were paired with a male experimenter. Consistent with prior research, males tended to make external attributions for failure while females tended to make internal and stable ones. The practical implications of these findings are considered.

Department(s)

Management

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-1998

Journal Title

Journal of Social Behavior and Personality

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