Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
Published on: May 4, 2020
Processes underlying gender-role flexibility: do androgynous individuals know more or know how to cope?
1Division of Social Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong. c.cheng@ust.hk
Abstract:
This research examined gender-role flexibility across a variety of stressful events, and tested two proposed hypotheses that explicate the processes underlying gender-role flexibility. The knowing-more hypothesis posits that androgynous individuals have a broad coping repertoire. The knowing-how hypothesis posits that androgynous individuals know how to cope according to changing situational characteristics. The coping responses of Chinese university students were assessed in both real-life (Study 1) and hypothetical (Study 2) stressful situations. Results revealed that androgynous participants, who were less depressed than others, were characterized by (a) cognitive astuteness in distinguishing among situational characteristics and (b) deployment of strategies that fit specific situational demands. Results supported the knowing-how hypothesis only.
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Cognitive Development During Adolescence
Horney's Sociocultural Approach
Cognitive Dissonance
Dosage Compensation
In addition to sexual development, the X chromosome has genes involved in autosomal functions such as brain development and the immune system. Therefore, males and females with distinct numbers of X chromosomes will have...
Relationship Formation
