Date of Award

1984

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The recent years, with changing roles for males and females, have in addition generated both questions and research about the psychological nature of men and women. If differences do indeed exist, they are no longer accepted as permanent and unchangeable. If nothing else, recent social change has made us aware that one's ideas and concepts about social order are much more challengeable than we thought previously. Research in these areas is particularly fascinating in that it has direct implications for how we live, relate to one another, challenge ourselves, and even raise our children.

One area that is of interest is the differences that exist in the achievement motivation of males and females. Males have historically been in the valued, achievement-oriented places in society. This is changing somewhat, but still, we find females lagging behind, earning lower wages, working in lower-prestige jobs. There are inevitably numerous reasons why this is true. Many of them are far too subtle, and complex. It is the purpose of this paper to look at some of the factors, particularly those in the area of cognitive development and socialization, that are significant in playing a role in achievement motivation in females. From the outset, the acknowledgement is made that this is perhaps only a fragment in a much greater picture. However, the research is nevertheless valuable in that there is the possiblity that the awareness of some of the factors may bring about at least small change.

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