Female inhibition in mixed-sex competition among young adolescents

Abstract Previous research shows that female adolescents and young adults tend to be inhibited in competition with males, performing below their usual levels. Thirty-two young adolescent girls were observed competing in same-sex sex and mixed-sex competition in two cultural groups, Hopi Indian and Afro-American. Films of the competitions (dodgeball games) were viewed in slow motion in order to evaluate competitiveness in terms of posture and movement. In both cultural groups highly skilled girls were less competitive with opposite-sex opponents, especially when those male opponents were themselves poor players. Culture seemed to influence not so much the strength of female inhibition as the form that inhibition took. Responses to questionnaires indicated that the girls were not conscious of changing their behavior in the presence of boy opponents.