Determinant of coalitional behavior of men and women: Sex roles or situational requirements?

Abstract

Challenges W. E. Vinacke, J. R. Bond, and T. T. Vesgi's (see PA, Vol. 36:1GE61B, and Vol. 38:2592) hypothesis that women adopt an accommodative or anticompetitive strategy related to sex role. A Coalition Expected Utility (CEU) theory of coalition formation explains the coalition formation of women; no differences are found in strategies adopted between men and women that are related to sex role. An experiment was conducted involving 48 female undergraduates (16 triads) in competitive situations under uncertainty. Findings support the predictions of CEU as against anticompetitive strategy (x2, p < .001). Implications of the results for general coalitional behavior in organizations and with respect to the role of women in complex organizations are discussed. (18 ref.) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)