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Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised (MRNI-R)3

Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised (MRNI-R) Test

Understand views on masculine role norms and stereotypes in about 4 minutes. Fast, reliable insights support counseling, research, and tailored growth plans.

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Questions: 214 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

30,919 views

3,913 completions

3,201 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

3/7

Endorsement of Traditional Masculine Ideology (EoTMI)

Measures how strongly a person agrees with traditional norms and expectations about male roles and masculinity.

Low support

Moderate support

High support

1 – 2.9: Low support | 3 – 5: Moderate support | 5.1 – 7: High support

A score of 3 indicates moderate support for traditional masculine ideology, suggesting partial agreement with conventional male-role expectations.

example score

4/7

Avoidance of Femininity (AoF)

Measures the tendency to avoid behaviors and traits culturally labeled as feminine in order to maintain a more traditionally masculine presentation.

Low avoidance

Moderate avoidance

High avoidance

1 – 2.9: Low avoidance | 3 – 5: Moderate avoidance | 5.1 – 7: High avoidance

A score of 4 falls in the Moderate avoidance range, suggesting some preference to distance from feminine-coded traits while not consistently rejecting them.

example score

5/7

Negative Attitudes Toward Sexual Minorities (NATSM)

Measures the extent of negative attitudes and rejection toward people who belong to sexual minorities.

Low negativity

Moderate negativity

High negativity

1 – 3: Low negativity | 3.1 – 5: Moderate negativity | 5.1 – 7: High negativity

A score of 5 falls in the Moderate negativity range, suggesting a notable but not extreme level of negative attitudes toward sexual minorities.

example score

4/7

Self-Reliance Through Mechanical Skills (SRTMS)

Measures how strongly a person links self-confidence to having mechanical or technical skills as part of male identity.

Low linkage

Moderate linkage

High linkage

1 – 2: Low linkage | 3 – 5: Moderate linkage | 6 – 7: High linkage

A score of 4 indicates a moderate tendency to associate self-confidence with mechanical or technical competence.

example score

4/7

Toughness (T)

Measures the degree to which a person endorses toughness, endurance, and emotional restraint as necessary masculine qualities.

Low endorsement

Moderate endorsement

High endorsement

1 – 3: Low endorsement | 4 – 5: Moderate endorsement | 6 – 7: High endorsement

A score of 4 suggests a moderate emphasis on resilience and emotional restraint as important components of masculinity.

example score

4/7

Dominance (D)

Measures preference for taking charge, exerting control, and leading others in interpersonal situations as part of masculine role beliefs.

Low dominance

Moderate dominance

High dominance

1 – 3: Low dominance | 4 – 5: Moderate dominance | 6 – 7: High dominance

A score of 4 falls in the Moderate dominance range, suggesting a balanced tendency to take charge in some situations without a strong need to control others.

example score

5/7

Importance of Sex (IoS)

Measures how central sexual interest and activity are to the respondent’s view of what it means to be a man.

Lower emphasis

Moderate emphasis

Higher emphasis

1 – 3: Lower emphasis | 3.1 – 5: Moderate emphasis | 5.1 – 7: Higher emphasis

A score of 5 indicates a moderate emphasis on sexuality as an important component of male identity.

example score

4/7

Restrictive Emotionality (RE)

Measures the tendency to limit emotional expression and keep feelings private in line with traditional masculine norms.

Open expression

Balanced restraint

Strong restriction

1 – 3: Open expression | 4 – 5: Balanced restraint | 6 – 7: Strong restriction

A score of 4 suggests a moderate level of emotional restraint, with some comfort expressing feelings alongside a tendency to hold them back in certain situations.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Men exploring identity

41%OF USERS

Men take it to understand which “be a real man” rules they’ve internalized and how those beliefs affect emotions, relationships, and self-esteem.

Therapy and coaching clients

34%OF USERS

People in counseling use it as a quick check-in to pinpoint masculine norms that may be driving stress, conflict, or stuck patterns.

Gender studies researchers

25%OF USERS

Researchers and students use it to measure attitudes toward traditional masculinity in studies on gender roles, health, and behavior.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Scale of Support for Traditional Masculine Ideology (SoSfTMI)

Average

4.3

Normal range

3.2 — 5.4

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Avoidance of Femininity (AoF)

Average

3.7

Normal range

2.8 — 4.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Negative attitude towards sexual minorities (Natsm)

Average

3.8

Normal range

3 — 4.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Self-confidence through mechanical skills (Stms)

Average

4.7

Normal range

3.6 — 5.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Resilience (R)

Average

2.5

Normal range

1.8 — 3.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Dominance (D)

Average

5.4

Normal range

4.4 — 6.4

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

The Importance of Sex (TIoS)

Average

3.2

Normal range

2.2 — 4.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Restricted Emotionality (RE)

Average

5.2

Normal range

4.1 — 6.4

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 21 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised (MRNI-R) Test - Symptoms and Signs

gender

masculinity

male role

This self-report measure assesses endorsement of culturally shaped beliefs about masculinity and socially prescribed male role expectations. The Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised (MRNI-R) is commonly used to characterize individual differences in attitudes toward traditional male role norms.

The instrument developed by Ronald F. Levant and Joseph H. Pleck consists of 21 items and typically requires about 4 minutes to complete. Respondents rate their agreement with statements reflecting perceived expectations for men, supporting clinical or research-oriented descriptions of masculinity-related attitudes. In applied settings, the Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised (MRNI-R) may help inform case conceptualization by identifying salient role norms that could influence self-concept, interpersonal behavior, and treatment engagement.

Author: Joseph H. Pleck, Ronald F. Levant

Literature: Levant, R. F., Hall, R. J., Weigold, I. K., & McCurdy, E. R. Gender role conflict, masculinity ideology, and psychological distress: The role of self-reported gender role conflict. Psychology of Men & Masculinity. 2015.