Masculine Behavior Scale – MBS
Measures behaviors and attitudes stereotypically associated with the masculine gender role.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Masculine Behavior Scale – MBS was developed by William E. Snell, Jr. (1989). It is designed to measure Masculine behavior stereotypes. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Success dedication, Restrictive emotionality, Inhibited affection, Exaggerated self-reliance & control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Success dedication | 1,5,13,17 | 4 |
| Restrictive emotionality | 2,6,10,14,18 | 5 |
| Inhibited affection | 3,7,11,15,19 | 5 |
| Exaggerated self-reliance & control | 4,8,12,16,20 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 2 = Agree, 1 = Slightly agree, 0 = Neither agree nor disagree, -1 = Slightly disagree, -2 = Disagree.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from -40 to 40. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low endorsement of masculine stereotypes: -40 – -15
- Moderate endorsement of masculine stereotypes: -14 – 14
- High endorsement of masculine stereotypes: 15 – 40
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.