Final answer:
Matina Horner's research identified that the fear of success was most prominent among women of above-average intelligence, highlighting the impact of societal gender expectations on professional ambition and achievement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The research by Matina Horner, a noted psychologist, suggested that fear of success was greatest in women of above-average intelligence. Horner's investigations revealed that, counterintuitively, these women were not just equally concerned with achievement as their male counterparts but also experienced an internal conflict over the social repercussions and stereotypes related to female success. This phenomenon, where high-achieving women subconsciously harbor a fear of success due to societal expectations and potential consequences on the personal front, is linked to the gender stereotypes regarding the roles and behaviors considered appropriate for women.
Specifically, stereotypes suggesting that women should prioritize family and relational roles over professional achievements can instill a reluctance to fully embrace success, especially when it is perceived as potentially endangering personal relationships or contradicting societal norms. This fear was found to be less pronounced in men, who traditionally do not face the same societal pressures regarding the balance of professional success and personal life. While men can also experience fear of success, it typically comes from different sources, such as economic pressures or job insecurity rather than gender stereotypes.
The implication of Horner's work extends beyond individual psychological phenomena; it touches on larger social issues such as gender inequality in workplaces and the pervasive nature of gender expectations on career paths.