Date of Award

1989

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between the motives to achieve and to affiliate in college senior women and to compare that correlation earlier findings that consistently produced a significant negative relationship. It has been suggested in the 1970's that for women achievement and affiliation were be_coming less adversarial and approaching a more balanced coexistence. These motivations were measured by the frequently utilized Edward's Personal Preference Schedule in an effort to help strengthen the comparability of the present results with those previous findings. Interviews were conducted in an effort to shed light on whether these women perceived the conflicts demonstrated by the correlation of achievement and affiliation. Consistent with the findings of past research, there was a significant negative correlation (-.32) between achievement and affiliation. Despite the prevalence of the super-woman notion. which reflects a meta-successful combination of career and family aspirations, many women appear to perceive these life dreams as adversarial. It seems that a combination of motives does not imply balance or coexistence for that matter, as many women continue to wrestle with the conflict between these apparently incompatible aspirations.

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