Effects of Self-Esteem and Gender on Goal Choice

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Introduction

The journal being criticized is called “effects of self-esteem and gender on goal choice” journal of organizational behavior, volume 12, issue 6 and the pages being discussed are 529 to 541. The authors of the article are Paul E. Levy and Ann H Baumgarder.

The paper contains a discussion about the relationship between self esteem and gender to the type of goals that people make. It also establishes the correlation between endurance traits and the choice of goals made by persons. The main variables under investigation are gender and self-confidence (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 529).

Summary of the article

The choice of goals that individuals make is determined by various factors such as gender, self esteem and others. Performance of goals is facilitated by the commitment that a person has to achieve difficult and specific goals. People set goals depending on what they are expecting to gain from such goals. People are motivated to perform certain acts because they expect something from the outcomes.

Higher expectations to achieve a goal and the value attached to such goals determine the need for an individual to set some goals. Therefore, a person’s expectation to achieve a goal and the value attached to it determines the choice for that goal and acceptance of such goals by an individual.

There are other factors which affect the choice and acceptance of goals, for example the gender and self-esteem of a person among other factors. Organizational behavior is influenced by personality factors and researchers have made great efforts to establish the relationship between the two. Goal setting emanates from different sources depending on the environment a person has experienced (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 530).

Knowledge about the past performance aspire a person to set future goals. Thus, the forces that cause people to set goals are realistic judgment, the need to improve self-esteem and the desire to protect oneself. The root cause of these forces is self-confidence and the character of such goals as well as the situations. The society has made us to believe that women can make less difficult goals while men are supposed to set difficult goals.

This mentality is subject to objection because not all men make difficult goals and on the other hand, not all women make simple goals. Self-confidence is a major determinant of the goals that a person makes because people are motivated to achieve goals when they have self-confidence (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 534).

The hypothesis of the article: self-esteem and gender differences have a great impact on the variation on the choice of goals that people make in their lives. Thus, high esteemed persons tend to choose difficult goals compared to low esteemed individuals.

On the other hand, men choose more difficult goals compared to women. The performance of challenging tasks depends on the commitments that people have to achieve difficult and specific goals (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 535).

Self-esteem

There is a correlation between self-esteem and psychological success. Additionally, people are committed to achieve goals when their self esteem is high. People with high self esteem have confidence and this makes them choose goals which are difficult. On the other hand people with low self-esteem tend to avoid difficult goals because they do not have self confidence.

There is a relationship between esteem and the commitment that an individual has towards goals in life. It is argued that people with high self esteem have made more successes than failures in their lives. High esteemed individuals expect to succeed and they have more self confidence.

As such, the goals set by high esteemed persons are high and more challenging compared to those set by low esteemed persons. It is therefore predictable that people with high esteem will prefer difficult goals than low esteemed persons (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 530).

Self esteem is defined as the state where a person evaluates his/her self-worth. The word is closely related to self-efficacy but the difference is that self efficacy is the judgment that a person has on his/her self capabilities. Self-efficacy is situation specific whereas self esteem is more global and has more implications on the types of goals made for an organization.

Thus, self efficacy is good parameter for predicting the types of goals set for a particular activity. It is conclusive that there is some relationship between personality traits and the behavior of an individual. This means that self-esteem and goal choice have some relationship (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 530).

Gender

Research shows that men choose more difficult goals than women. In addition, men expect to perform better than women. People perceive that men are more competent and that they perform better than women in many tasks. Men are said to be more self-confident and they always perceive themselves to be superior to women.

Therefore, men choose more challenging and difficult goals because they are more confident in themselves than their female counterparts (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 521).

Overview of research

The dependent variable for the research was goal difficulty for the goals selected by the people being evaluated. The gender of the respondents as well as their self-esteem was selected as the independent variables for the research. The theme of the research was that gender and self-esteem accounted for the variations in the choice of goals made by the respondents.

It was expected that that people with high self-esteem tend to choose goals which are more difficult. Additionally, it was expected that men tend to select goals which are more difficult compared to women (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 532).

Methodology

The respondents were 202 students; 92 male students and 110 female students. Rosenberg Self-esteem Inventory was provided and contained scale of ten items which had 4 points arranged in a Likert format. The reliability estimates ranged from 0.70 to 0.90. Cronbach’s alpha that was applied to estimate the reliability level was 0.78.

The procedure of the exercise involved participants arriving in groups of 4 to 6 and were provided with forms to fill in confidentiality. The forms were collected and evaluated according to the responses provided by all the respondents (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 533).

Results and discussion

The predictions of the research were that men with high esteem would select more difficult goals compared to low esteem female respondents. The confirmation for these predictions was done by conducting a regressing analysis for the responses provided by the respondents. Males were found to select more difficult goals compared to female participants.

On the other hand participants with high esteem selected more difficult goals compared to those with low self esteem (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 538). Goal setting theory explains the differences in gender roles when setting goals by individuals (Beehr and Love 162).

There is a positive relationship between the personality differences and the choice of goals made by individuals. Self-esteem has a great impact on the performance of goals selected. Therefore people with low self-esteem will prefer goals which are less difficult (Carroli and Tosi, 124).

The regression analysis tool was reliable for this study because the dependent and independent variables were related. It is possible to develop the relationship between the variables being tested. The major concepts and issues being investigated are readily visible, explained and defined.

The key factors being investigated are efficacy to choose difficult goals, self-esteem and the gender differences. It is clear that the variables are easily identifiable and the relationship among the three variables is well defined. It is however not possible to quantify difficulty of a goal and self esteem.

The values applied for this research are therefore mere assumptions because there is no accurate method to get the specific quantity for each of the variables (Robele, p. 165).

From the findings of the research, it is evident that differences in gender and self-esteem have a significant impact on the choice of goals that a person selects. Men have been found to choose goals which are challenging compared to women.

The regression analysis provides a high level of significance between the goals chosen by individuals and their gender. The direction of the regression shows there is a direct relationship between difficulty of goals chosen and the gender of a respondent being a male (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 541).

People with high self-efficacy have been found to choose difficult goals. The regression analysis provides that people with a high value for them tend to accept challenging experiences and as such they will choose difficult goals. To explain further, it has been found out that men with high self-esteem would choose more difficult goals compared to low esteem women (Levy, Paul and Baumgardner, p. 543).

Weaknesses of the paper

Various authors have developed theories which nullify the concepts discussed by the article. Men and women have equal abilities as explained by Bandura and Ccrvonc (p.92) and that both genders have the ability to make difficult decisions equally. They also said that both gender groups have equal levels of confidence. Bandura and Ccrvonc (p.92) opined that challenges in life determine a person’s motivation to handle difficult goals.

As such the gender roles do not have an impact on the motivation to achieve goals. Both men and women can choose difficult goals as far as they are motivated. Motivation has been identified as the main factor that contributes to a person choosing certain goals and gender differences play no role in the kind of goals people make in life (Bandura and Ccrvonc, 92).

The goals that people choose change with time depending on the prevailing conditions. It is therefore imperative that people can chose simple or difficult goals at different times in their lives. The kind of goal chosen will be determined by the experiences that a person’s has undergone in life.

The past experiences of a person determine the ability to handle difficult goals. As such, people with a history of experiencing difficulties will choose difficult goals compared to people who have never been exposed to difficult goals (Bandura and Ccrvonc, 93).

Commitment towards achieving certain goals is the main determinant that people have towards making goals. When a person is committed to achieve a certain goal, he/she will pursue such goals irrespective of the difficulties or challenges to be experienced.

Hollcnbcck and Klein (p. 219) explain that people can achieve difficult goals irrespective of the fact that they are male or female. Determination to achieve goals inspires a person to choose goals and gender has little or no influence on the kind of goals people make (Hollcnbcck and Klein, p. 219)

People may be forced by circumstances to choose certain goals despite the fact that they have high self-esteem or not. A challenging experience will force somebody to get the driving force to achieve certain goals. Self-esteem can be achieved when a person learns about the goals they have chosen. Thus, self-esteem is totally not a primary determinant of the goals chosen by an individual.

Self-esteem is a factor that cannot be applied solely when selecting goals in life because people change with time. Self-esteem is a feeling which changes and people respond differently to different situations. When a person’s esteem is low there will be a tendency to select specific goals. Thus, it is impossible to be certain that high self esteem causes a person to select difficult goals (Demerouti et al p. 78).

Biologically, women are said to be able to handle many things at a go. Men use their left brain while women apply both sides of their brain. There are many cells which join the left and right parts of women’s brain. Thus, women can perform more than one activity at a given time.

On the other hand, men have no connection between the right and left sides of their brains and this makes them unable to handle many activities at the same time (Conner, para. 13). Women are therefore able to handle many complicated activities at a time compared to men. They make more difficult goals because they have the mental capacity to handle such goals.

Various stereotypes in the society have suggested that women are the weaker sex and that they are supposed to make less difficult goals. Men are believed to be energetic and they can handle difficult goals. These stereotypes have been proved wrong by research because women are very strong and can make more challenging decisions compared to women.

The stereotypes were developed by traditional thinkers and they have become disapproved in the modern days. Women are said to make difficult decisions and they can handle goals which are challenging (Conner, para. 15).

Strengths of the paper

It has been proved that the article has concepts which coincide with other researches conducted but different authors. Wood and Wood and Karten (p. 345) did a similar research and found out that men have more confidence than women and that men will tend to choose more difficult goals compared to women. Gender differences are extended to the choice of goals made by people in their live.

The society has established a culture where females are viewed as a weaker sex. As such, females are expected to take less difficult goals in their lives. Males on the other hand are expected to make tough decisions and that they are supposed to make difficult goals.

This culture is inculcated from birth to old age and men are made to believe that they should make difficult goals. Women on the other hand believe that they are supposed to make less challenging goals (Coon, & Mitterer, p. 109).

Self esteem is the confidence that a person to do a particular activity. It also refers to the value that a person attaches his or her work. As such when a person has a high self-esteem he/she will tend to work towards achieving goals which are difficult. Low-self-esteem makes a person have a lower value and low self confidence.

Such people avoid taking difficult tasks because they lack the motivation to endure hardships. Self esteem provides the inner drive to take risks and choose difficult goals. Therefore, there is a link between high self-esteem and the behavior to make difficult goals (Verstegen, p. 116).

The psychological and physical systems of men are different from those of women and this is the foundation of the differences in the goals made by the two gender groups. Conner (para. 2) explains that both males and females are equal but there are many differences between the two gender groups.

The nature as well as individuality of men is different from that of women and both gender groups reason differently. It is under this understanding that men make different goals from those made by women. Equality means that both men and women should be protected and allowed to have equal access to resource and opportunities (Conner, para. 5).

Conner (para, 12) continues to argue that it is with no doubt that men and women are different both physically and psychologically. The physical differences are easily identifiable because men have masculine tissues while women are weaker.

Men are seen to apply more energy in their activities while women apply less energy. Women will therefore prefer less challenging activities compared to men. The physical differences cause men to choose difficult goals because they have the ability to handle challenges (Conner, para. 9).

Conclusion

It is a fact that a great number of women do not have the confidence to take difficult goals. However there are exceptional cases where some women are determined to achieve their goals irrespective of the challenges they encounter. On the other hand, there are many men who take the challenge to take difficult goals.

It is also observable that some men fear taking difficult goals and they will make every effort to avoid challenging goals. Individuals with self-esteem have the courage to make tough decisions and this will prompt them to choose difficult goals. On the other hand, people with low self-esteem lack the courage to choose difficult goals and they will make effort to avoid challenging situation.

The journal is adequate in resolving the research question. There is adequate evidence that prove the fact that men can make difficult goals compared to women. Gender and self-esteem are factors which have a great influence on the kind of goals that individuals make.

The paper has contributed a lot towards the development of psychological studies about differences in gender roles. The paper has promoted the knowledge about differences about gender attitudes towards making choices in life.

Works Cited

Bandura, A. and Ccrvonc, D. ‘Differential engagement of self-reactive influence in cognitive motivation’, Organizational Behavior anil Human Decision Processes, 38, 1986. p. 92-113.

Beehr, T.A. and Love, K. G. ‘A mcta-modcl of the effects of goal characteristics, feedback, and role characteristics in human organizations’, Human Relations, 36, 1983. p. 151-166.

Conner, Michael G. Understanding the difference between men and women. 2010.

Demerouti, Evangelia Erik van Eeuwijk, Margriet Snelder, and Wild, Ulrike. Assessing the effects of a “personal effectiveness” training on psychological capital, assertiveness and self-awareness using self-other agreement. Career Development International. 16(1). 2011. p. 60-81.

Hollcnbcck, J.R. and Klein, II. J. (1987). ‘Goal commitment and the goal-setting process: Problems, prospects, and proposals for future research’. Journal of Applied Psychology, 72, 212-220.

Knight, Patrick A. and Nadel, Jerome I. ‘Humility revisited: Self-esteem, information search, and policy consistency’, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Procesxes, 38, 1986. p. 196-206.

Levy, Paul E. and Ann H. Baumgardner. Effects of self-esteem and gender on goal choice.” Journal of Organizational Behavior, 12 (1991): p. 529-541.

Rebelo, T. M. and Gomes, A. D. (2011). Conditioning factors of an organizational learning culture. Journal of Workplace Learning. 23(3).

Verstegen,B. H. (2011). A socio-economic view on management control. International Journal of Social Economics. 38(2). p. 114-127.

Wood, W., and Karten, S. J. Sex differences in interaction style as a product of perceived sex differences in competence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 1986. P. 341-347.

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