Modesty is not necessarily a good thing, at least for men in job interviews, study finds

Having neglected to keep up with the journal Psychology of Men & Masculinity, this recent study had escaped my attention: “When Men Break the Gender Rules: Status Incongruity and Backlash Against Modest Men.” That is to say, for men, modesty in job interviews comes with risk.

Researchers at Rutgers University found that, when watching staged job interviews, both male and female viewers were a bit turned off by modest men, considering them to be rather weak and uncertain -- “low status” traits to be sure. Modest women suffered no such backlash. That’s to be expected, yes? One must be ladylike and all that.

Here’s the abstract of the masculinity study, published in the April issue, and more study detail from Rutgers University.

Of note, the researchers don’t put a “go ahead and strut your stuff” spin on their findings. Rather, they suggest that such a backlash pressures men “to conform to masculine norms and stereotypes that limit their human potential.” Implied, no doubt, is how ultimately limiting insufferability can be.

If such findings intrigue you, check out this offering on body image in the July issue: “Masculine Gender Roles and Differentiation: Predictors of Body Image and Self-Objectification in Men.” Turns out guys need “a clear sense of self” too.

-- Tami Dennis