Sex roles and social-sexual effectiveness

The investigation examined the relationship between male sex-role orientation and perceived social effectiveness in the context of dating and sexual relating. One hundred and thirty-three undergraduate males completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory and the Male Social-Sexual Effectiveness Scale (MSSES). Results revealed androgynous males indicated the greatest degree of comfort and confidence in dating sexual situations. Undifferentiated males indicated the least social-sexual effectiveness, while masculine sex-typed males scored midrange. The results support the criterion validity of the MSSES, and provide further evidence in favor of the analysis of sex roles as, essentially, instrumental and expressive social competencies.