The study was undertaken to explore the theoretical differences between Pappo and Horner, in regard to the significance of the variables of sex-role orientation of the individual and sex-role orientation of the task, in predicting performance of females high in fear of success. Subjects were 227 white female high school sophomores and juniors. It was hypochesized that with feedback of success on a task which was deemed sex-role inappropriate, individuals high in fear of success, who demonstrate a traditional sex-role orientation, would manifest smaller increments or larger decrements in performance between Scrambled Word Tasks II and I. Feedback of success-nonsuccess, sex-role orientation, and fear of success were not effective in predicting differences in performance on the Scrambled Word Task. The defensive patterns postulated by Pappo to be characteristic of the high fear of success individual were upheld.
Comments on the Empirical Investigation of Women Managers: Their Fears