STATUS, COMMUNALITY, AND AGENCY - IMPLICATIONS FOR STEREOTYPES OF GENDER AND OTHER GROUPS

Four studies addressed the hypothesis, based on correspondence bias, t hat low-relative to high-status individuals are perceived as more comm unal and less agentic. Study 1 instantiated status in terms of occupat ions, and findings were as expected. The findings of Study 2 reconcile d those of Study 1 and of A. H. Eagly and V. J. Steffen (1984) in that they demonstrated that high-status occupations are differentially con strued in terms of their interpersonal communal demands. The hypothesi s received clear support in Studies 3 and 4, in which a general instan tiation of status independent of occupations, social roles, and gender was adopted. The findings are discussed in terms of gender stereotype s and social role theory of gender (A. H. Eagly, 1987) as well as in t erms of other stereotypes.