Religious mysticism and gender orientation

This study of 411 undergraduates utilized the short form of the Bem Sex Rol e Inventory (BSRI) and a modified version of the Hood Mysticism Scale (M-sc ale) to examine the relationship of gender orientation with mystical experi ence. The hypothesis - that participants classified on the BSRI as feminine or androgynous each would score significantly higher on mysticism than per sons classified as masculine was confirmed. The suggestion is made that per sons who score high on mysticism are persons who have developed a feminine self-schema cognitive structure through which they process data in a way th at emphasizes the unity of and identification with reality. The finding can be interpreted as lending support to theorists who argue for a constructiv ist understanding of the mystical experience.