[Indirect self-destructiveness and psychological gender].

AIM

Behaviours causing harm to a subject are generally called self-destructive behaviours. For some time now direct/acute self-destructiveness and indirect/chronic self-destructiveness have been distinguished. Human activity is determined to a large degree by not only biological (somatic) sex but also psychological gender. The aim of the study was to examine relationships between indirect self-destructiveness and types of psychological gender.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

558 individuals (399 females and 159 males) aged 19-25 were studied (mean age: 22.6). The age of the females ranged from 19 to 24 (mean age: 22.4) and of the males - from 19 to 25 (mean age: 22.8). In order to examine the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness, the Polish version of the Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale by Kelley (CS-DS), as adapted by Suchańska, was applied. The psychological gender was examined by means of the Polish version of the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) by Bem, as adapted by Kuczyńska.

RESULTS

The highest scores on indirect self-destructiveness were achieved by non-sex-typed individuals, lower- by sex-typed and cross-sex-typed individuals (very similar scores). In females, indirect self-destructiveness positively correlates with the masculinity scale, whereas in males, it negatively correlates with the femininity scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Biological sex and psychological gender are qualitative variables that differentiate the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness. Psychological gender opposite to biological sex is of significance to the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness. The psychological dimension of femininity protects against indirect self-destructiveness, while the psychological dimension of masculinity predisposes to it.