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Cited by 366Gender Roles and Identity StudiesGender and Feminist StudiesSocial and Intergroup Psychology

Overdoing Gender: A Test of the Masculine Overcompensation Thesis

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Willer, Robb, Rogalin, Christabel L., Conlon, Bridget, Wojnowicz, Michael T.·2013·American Journal of Sociology
DOI 10.1086/668417
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Abstract

The masculine overcompensation thesis asserts that men react to masculinity threats with extreme demonstrations of masculinity, a proposition tested here across four studies. In study 1, men and women were randomly given feedback suggesting they were either masculine or feminine. Women showed no effects when told they were masculine; however, men given feedback suggesting they were feminine expressed more support for war, homophobic attitudes, and interest in purchasing an SUV. Study 2 found that threatened men expressed greater support for, and desire to advance in, dominance hierarchies. Study 3 showed in a large-scale survey on a diverse sample that men who reported that social changes threatened the status of men also reported more homophopic and prodominance attitudes, support for war, and belief in male superiority. Finally, study 4 found that higher testosterone men showed stronger reactions to masculinity threats than those lower in testosterone. Together, these results support the masculine overcompensation thesis, show how it can shape political and cultural attitudes, and identify a hormonal factor influencing the effect.

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  • When men feel that their masculinity is threatened, they may respond by amplifying traditionally masculine behaviors/traits as a way to reassert and protect their gender identity.

    “The theory of masculine overcompensation (Bosson et al., 2009; Willer et al., 2013) further suggests that when men feel that their masculinity is threatened, they may respond by amplifying traditionally masculine behaviors/traits as a way to reassert and protect their gender identity.”

    From A Sexist Language? Gender Differences in Attitudes and Use of Gender-Inclusive Pronouns (2025) · cites this paper as Willer et al., 2013

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Adler, Alfred. ð1910Þ 1956. "Inferiority Feeling and Masculine Protest." Pp. 45-52 in The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler: A Systematic Presentation in Selections from His Writings, edited by Heinz L. Ansbacher and Rowena R. Ansbacher. New York: Basic Books.
  2. Aronson, Elliot, Phoebe Ellsworth, J. Merrill Carlsmith, and Marti Hope Gonzales. 1990. Methods of Research in Social Psychology, 2d ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  3. Burke, Peter J., and Jan E. Stets. 2009. Identity Theory. New York: Oxford University Press.
  4. ---. 1985. "Masculinity, Violence, and War." Pp. 4-10 in War/Masculinity, edited by Paul Patton and Ross Poole. Melbourne: Intervention.
  5. Freud, Sigmund. ð1898Þ 1962. "The Neuro-Psychoses of Defense." Pp. 43-70 in The Stan- dard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, vol. 3. London: Hogarth.
  6. Stets, Jan E. and Peter J. Burke. 2000a. "Femininity/Masculinity." Pp. 997-1005 in Encyclopedia of Sociology, rev. ed. Edited by Edgar F. Borgatta and Rhonda J. V. Montgomery. New York: Macmillan.
  7. Wilson, Marc S. 2005. "Gender Group Identity as a Moderator of Sex Differences in In- terpersonal and Intergroup Dominance." Pp. 145-67 in Psychology of Gender Identity, edited by Janice W. Lee. New York: Nova.

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Authors
Willer, R., Rogalin, C. L., Conlon, B., & Wojnowicz, M. T.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • Purdue University Northwest (US)
  • California State University, Fresno (US)
  • University of Washington (US)
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Sociology
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Published
2013-01
Volume
118
Issue
4
Pages
980-1022
ISSN
  • 0002-9602 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-5390
DOI
10.1086/668417
OpenAlex
W1555651838
Cited by
366
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
FWCI
54.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Sociology (publishedVersion)
  • John Spoor Broome Library Institutional Repository (California State University) (submittedVersion)
  • California State University ScholarWorks (system-wide DSpace) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords
masculinity threat, gender threat, masculinity, femininity, testosterone, dominance hierarchy, war support, homophobic attitudes, male superiority, political attitudes, social change

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