Gender self-concept profiles of adolescents suspended from high school

The gender self-concept profiles of 128 adolescents (107 males) whose persi stent behaviour problems led to suspension from school were investigated. E stablishing the students' percentile ratings in the 11 subscales of the Sel f-Description Questionnaire overcame previous methodological weaknesses. Fo r boys and girls Physical Appearance, Opposite-sex Relationships, and Hones ty and Trustworthiness were in the average range, but Parent Relationships, General Self, and General School self-concepts were low. Only girls were l ow for Same-sex Relationships and Emotional Stability. The profiles suggest that boys' antisocial behaviours are associated with striving for a mascul ine self-image, but girls' antisocial behaviours are associated with greate r social marginalisation. The issues of multifocused interventions, prosoci al role models. the particular needs of girls, and the relationship between self-control, self-enhancement, and reputation enhancement theories are di scussed.