Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI)

Abstract

The Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI) is a comprehensive Psychological Scale developed to measure the degree to which men adhere to traditional, culturally defined Masculine Norms. Developed by Mahalik and colleagues (2003), the CMNI is a multidimensional instrument consisting of 94 items distributed across 11 distinct factors. This scale is widely utilized in clinical and research settings to understand how adherence to specific masculine ideologies impacts psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships, and help-seeking behaviors among men.

The CMNI provides researchers and clinicians with a robust tool for quantifying internalized beliefs about manhood, which is crucial for addressing issues related to gender-role conflict and subsequent mental health challenges.

Keywords

Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory, CMNI, Masculinity, Gender Roles, Psychological Assessment, Winning, Emotional Control, Self-Reliance, Dominance, Power Over Women.

Authors

James R. Mahalik, Brian D. Locke, Larry H. Ludlow, Matthew A. Diemer, Michael Gottfried, Rebecca P. Scott, and Gabriela Freitas.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI) is to provide a detailed, psychometrically sound measure of adherence to specific domains of traditional masculinity. Unlike earlier, more general measures of gender roles, the CMNI breaks down masculinity into 11 distinct components, allowing for nuanced assessment of which specific norms are most strongly endorsed by an individual.

In clinical settings, the CMNI is used to identify potential sources of psychological distress rooted in rigid adherence to gender roles, such as suppressed emotional expression (Emotional Control) or reluctance to seek assistance (Self-Reliance). In research, it facilitates the examination of relationships between specific masculine ideologies and various outcomes, including physical health behaviors, aggression, homophobia, and attitudes towards women.

Construct

The CMNI measures multidimensional conformity to traditional masculine norms. This construct posits that adherence to male gender ideology is not monolithic but is comprised of several independent domains that collectively define culturally idealized manhood. The original 94-item version of the CMNI assesses 11 distinct subscales:

• Winning (WIN): The necessity of succeeding and beating others.
• Emotional Control (EMOC): The suppression of feelings, especially vulnerability.
• Risk-Taking (RISK): Engaging in dangerous behaviors to prove oneself.
• Violence (VIOL): The belief that physical aggression is necessary or justified.
• Dominance (DOM): The need to control others and situations.
• Playboy (PLAY): The endorsement of sexual promiscuity and emotional detachment in relationships.
• Self-Reliance (SELF): The refusal to ask for help or rely on others.
• Primacy of Work (WORK): Prioritizing one’s career above all else.
• Power Over Women (POW): Belief in male superiority and control over women.
• Disdain for Homosexuals (HOMO): Negative attitudes and fear of being perceived as gay.
• Pursuit of Status (POS): The drive for importance, recognition, and material success.

Validity

Initial validation studies by Mahalik et al. (2003) established the construct validity of the CMNI through exploratory factor analysis, confirming the 11-factor structure. Subsequent research has further supported the instrument’s validity and utility. Specifically, studies have demonstrated expected correlations between CMNI subscales and relevant psychological outcomes, such as higher scores on Violence and Power Over Women correlating with increased hostility.

Further investigations, such as those by Parent and Moradi (2009, 2011), utilized Confirmatory Factor Analysis to refine the scale, leading to the development of an abbreviated 46-item version (CMNI-46). This abbreviated version maintained strong psychometric properties while offering a more efficient measure of the core constructs, further confirming the robust structure of the underlying masculine norms.

Reliability

The CMNI demonstrates excellent internal consistency reliability. For the total score on the 94-item instrument, the Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was reported as 0.94. The internal consistency for the 11 individual subscales also showed strong reliability, ranging from acceptable to excellent:

• Winning (WIN): .88
• Emotional Control (EMOC): .91
• Risk-Taking (RISK): .82
• Violence (VIOL): .84
• Power Over Women (POW): .87
• Dominance (DOM): .73
• Playboy (PLAY): .88
• Self-Reliance (SELF): .85
• Primacy of Work (WORK): .76
• Disdain for Homosexuals (HOMO): .90
• Pursuit of Status (POS): .72

Factor Analysis

The development of the CMNI was based on an extensive literature review and initial factor analysis which resulted in the identification of 11 distinct factors representing adherence to Masculine Norms. These factors are designed to be relatively independent, reflecting the complexity of masculine ideology. The factor analysis confirmed that these specific dimensions—ranging from attitudes toward emotions (EMOC) to professional priorities (WORK)—are measurable components of the overarching construct.

Subsequent research (Parent & Moradi, 2009, 2011) utilized Confirmatory Factor Analysis to test the structural validity of the 11-factor model. While supporting the core conceptual framework, these studies proposed the CMNI-46, an abbreviated version that retained the robust 11-factor structure while improving model fit and efficiency for clinical applications.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Psychological Scale/Inventory

Format: 94 items (Original Version) or 46 items (Abbreviated Version, CMNI-46). Responses use a 4-point Likert Scale.

Language Available: English (Primary language of development).

Population Group: Men

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically used with college-aged and older men).

Population Details: Primarily developed and validated using samples of college men.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement with each statement using the following response options: “Strongly Disagree,” “Disagree,” “Agree,” and “Strongly Agree.”

Keywords

Psychological Inventory, Gender-Role Conflict, Masculine Ideology, Self-Report Measure, CMNI-46, Psychometric properties, Emotional Control, Dominance, Risk-Taking.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not Provided

Affiliation Email addresses: Not Provided

Correspondence Address: Not Provided

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 2003 (Initial publication of the 94-item CMNI).

Permissions and Fees: Generally, the CMNI is available for academic and non-commercial research use, but users should consult the original authors or publishing journal for specific licensing and permission requirements.

The original PDF regarding the development and validation of this instrument can be accessed here: https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/4826/research.pdf?sequence=3

Reference’s

• Mahalik, J.R., Locke, B.D., Ludlow, L.H., Diemer, M.A., Gottfried, M., Scott, R. P., Freitas, G. (2003). Development of the conformity to masculine norms inventory. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 4(1), 3-25.
• Mahalik, J.R., Locke, B.D., Talmadge, W.T., Scott, R. P., (2005). Using the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory to work with men in a clinical setting. Clinical Psychology, 61(6), 661–674.
• Mahalik, J.R., Morray, E.B., Coonerty-Femaino, A., Ludlow, L.H., Slattery, S.M., & Smiler, A. (2005). Development of the conformity to feminine norms inventory. Sex Roles. 52(7/8), 417-435.
• Parent, M.C. & Moradi, B. (2009). Confirmatory factory analysis of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory and the development of the CMNI-46. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 10, 175-189. doi: 10.1037/a0015481
• Parent, M.C. & Moradi, B. (2011). An abbreviated tool for assessing conformity to masculine norms: Psychometric properties of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-46. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 12, 339-353. doi: 10.1037/a0021904
• Parent, M.C., Moradi, B., Rummell, C., & Tokar, D. (2011). Evidence of construct distinctiveness for conformity to masculine norms. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 12, 354-367. doi: 10.1037/a0023837
• Thompson, E. H., Jr., & Bennett, K. M. (2015). Measurement of Masculinity Ideologies: A (Critical) Review. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0038609

Items of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. It is best to keep your emotions hidden
2. In general‚ I will do anything to win
3. If I could‚ I would frequently change sexual partners
4. If there is going to be violence‚ I find a way to avoid it
5. It is important to me that people think I am heterosexual
6. In general‚ I must get my way
7. Trying to be important is the greatest waste of time
8. I am often absorbed in my work
9. I will only be satisfied when women are equal to men
10. I hate asking for help
11. Taking dangerous risks helps me to prove myself
12. In general‚ I do not expend a lot of energy trying to win at things
13. An emotional bond with a partner is the best part of sex
14. I should take every opportunity to show my feelings
15. I believe that violence is never justified
16. Being thought of as gay is not a bad thing
17. In general‚ I do not like risky situations
18. I should be in charge
19. Feelings are important to show
20. I feel miserable when work occupies all my attention
21. I feel best about my relationships with women when we are equals
22. Winning is not my first priority
23. I make sure that people think I am heterosexual
24. I enjoy taking risks
25. I am disgusted by any kind of violence
26. I would hate to be important
27. I love to explore my feelings with others
28. If I could‚ I would date a lot of different people
29. I ask for help when I need it
30. My work is the most important part of my life
31. Winning isn’t everything‚ it’s the only thing
32. I never take chances
33. I would only have sex if I was in a committed relationship
34. I like fighting
35. I treat women as equals
36. I bring up my feelings when talking to others
37. I would be furious if someone thought I was gay
38. I only get romantically involved with one person
39. I don’t mind losing
40. I take risks
41. I never do things to be an important person
42. It would not bother me at all if someone thought I was gay
43. I never share my feelings
44. Sometimes violent action is necessary
45. Asking for help is a sign of failure
46. In general‚ I control the women in my life
47. I would feel good if I had many sexual partners
48. It is important for me to win
49. I don’t like giving all my attention to work
50. I feel uncomfortable when others see me as important
51. It would be awful if people thought I was gay
52. I like to talk about my feelings
53. I never ask for help
54. More often than not‚ losing does not bother me
55. It is foolish to take risks
56. Work is not the most important thing in my life
57. Men and women should respect each other as equals
58. Long term relationships are better than casual sexual encounters
59. having status is not very important to me
60. I frequently put myself in risky situations
61. Women should be subservient to men
62. I am willing to get into a physical fight if necessary
63. I like having gay friends
64. I feel good when work is my first priority
65. I tend to keep my feelings to myself
66. Emotional involvement should be avoided when having sex
67. Winning is not important to me
68. Violence is almost never justified
69. I am comfortable trying to get my way
70. I am happiest when I’m risking danger
71. Men should not have power over women
72. It would be enjoyable to date more than one person at a time
73. I would feel uncomfortable if someone thought I was gay
74. I am not ashamed to ask for help
75. The best feeling in the world comes from winning
76. Work comes first
77. I tend to share my feelings
78. I like emotional involvement in a romantic relationship
79. No matter what the situation I would never act violently
80. If someone thought I was gay‚ I would not argue with them about it
81. Things tend to be better when men are in charge
82. I prefer to be safe and careful
83. A person shouldn’t get tied down to dating just one person
84. I tend to invest my energy in things other than work
85. It bothers me when I have to ask for help
86. I love it when men are in charge of women
87. It feels good to be important
88. I hate it when people ask me to talk about my feelings
89. I work hard to win
90. I would only be satisfied with sex if there was an emotional bond
91. I try to avoid being perceived as gay
92. I hate any kind of risk
93. I prefer to stay unemotional
94. I make sure people do as I say