Resourcefulness and social desirability trait ascriptions of males: An evaluation of age and sex

Our purpose in this study was to evaluate the effects of age and sex on trait ascriptions toward male targets. Young (n = 40) and elderly (n = 40) participants rated young and elderly male targets on a number of traits of social desirability and resourcefulness using the Social Desirability Index (Perlini, Bertolissi, & Lind, 1999). Consistent with previous research on female targets, male targets were considered more socially desirable when they were young; moreover, the social desirability of the target male was considered more favorable when undertaken by an elderly evaluator. Elderly participants rated the young male target as more resourceful than the elderly male target, and more resourceful than the young participants rated the young male target. Results are discussed in terms of evolutionary and role theories of social behavior.