The Stability of Self Perceptions of Instrumental and Expressive Traits and Social Self Esteem among Gifted and Talented Female Adolescents

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Abstract
Since Bem's (1974) formulation of androgyny, numerous research efforts have focused on the relationship between gender identity and self esteem. These efforts have tested the descriptive adequacy of the hypothesized relationship between gender identity and self esteem (Whitley, 1983). The present study examines the relationship between a circumscribed aspect of gender identity, self perceptions of socioaffective traits, as measured by the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ) and of social self esteem as measured by the Texas Social Behavioral Inventory (TSBI), over a 14-month period among a sample of gifted and talented female adolescents (n=260). The results of typological and regression analyses reveal that: 1) substantial variability in classification group membership occurs over time; 2) the relationship between classification group membership and social self esteem remains relatively stable; and 3) self perceptions of stereotypically masculine instrumentality consistently emerges as the central contributor to social self esteem. Implications for counseling gifted and talented female adolescents wrestling with issues of gender-relevant self-perceptions, achievement and social self esteem are discussed.