The turn exchanges of normally developing eight-year-old boys and girls (n=20) were examined within adult-child dyadic interactions. Results indicated no gender differences for nonsimultaneous turn exchange behaviors but significant differences in overlap subtypes and simultaneous resolution patterns. Gender differences were consistent with the…

The study described revealed gender differences in adolescents' patterns of overt and covert interpersonal social behaviors. Females' overt behaviors were more competent in terms of greater eye contact, situationally appropriate self-expressiveness, and adoption of independent stances. Males were more likely to respond in an inappropriately…

Presents data from a study of assimilative and accommodative discourse devices in the speech of 24 preschool children and 24 middle-childhood youngsters (12 boys and 12 girls in each group) in grades 3 and 6. Boys' discourse, regardless of age, contained more accommodative devices, whereas girls' discourse contained more assimilative devices. Some…

Argues that behavioral differentiation of the sexes is minimal when children are observed or tested individually. Sex differences emerge primarily in social situations resulting in social styles that place females at a disadvantage in interactions with males. The role of the nuclear family in the development of these styles is discussed. (FMW)

Previous research findings were used in this study to develop and compare categories of the commonly used tactics and motives of sexually aggressive college women and men. In the collaborative work, 43% of the men and 26% of the women said they had perpetrated at least one act of sexual persistence. Based upon the reports of sexual targets,…

Investigated whether assertive and nonassertive individuals differ in defense mechanisms they most typically rely on when confronted with interpersonal stress and conflict. Results indicated assertive males and females both endorsed the most adaptive defense mechanism cluster, whereas nonassertive males and females endorsed more primitive defense…

This study investigates the power of the sex-role social norm in determining dominance: is dominance determined by personality "type" (from Myers-Briggs) or by the sex-role expectation? Thinking (T) and feeling (F) types were paired, including all possible combinations of sex and T-F. Thirty-two dyads, 16 opposite sex and 16 same sex,…

Interpersonal relationships of students are subject to modification by college experience. Male returnees are more assertive, and expect and receive more spousal support. The female student may report marital happiness when support is low, as long as she and her spouse agree the support level is appropriate. (Author)

Studied predictors of social dominance and the effects of social dominance on the play behavior of 16 young children 1 to 3 years old. Observed multiple interactions with multiple partners to explore individual-level effects and effects due to individual-partner interactions. Found support for expectations that social dominance mediates…

One explanation for the lack of contraception use among adolescents is that young women may feel embarrassment or rejection by their partners if they initiate the use of contraception. To explore young adults' reactions to contraceptive use, 160 college students evaluated a description of an unmarried young couple which varied the length of time…

Identifies conceptual and methodological strengths of Hawley and Little's article and commends the pedagogical value of the approach taken. Notes that questions still unanswered concern the validity of adult caregiver perceptions of social dominance, the relationship between competition hierarchies and hierarchies based on directed agonism, and…

This study examined the relation of social situation variables and children's gender to children's social problem solving ability in potentially unsafe situations. A total of 62 preschoolers (mean age 4.4 years) were shown a series of four vignettes. In two vignettes, an adult or a child asked a second child to cross a street. In two other…

This research investigates how androgynous men and women are evaluated relative to those who are sex-typed or sex reversed, and also investigates the joint effects of attractiveness and sex-role upon such evaluation. Two studies with replicable results were conducted. In each, approximately 185 male and 185 female undergraduates were asked to rate…

Situational influences on self-confidence and assertiveness in female and male graduate students in science and engineering were studied, based on responses from 328 Stanford University students (155 males and 173 females). Two dependent variables were used: an index of items measuring an individual's self-confidence in the ability to perform…

A study examined two factors thought to affect an individual's preference for confrontation or avoidance strategies when ending a relationship--communicator age and sex role orientation. Subjects were 29 fifth grade students, 64 high school sophomores, 43 college students, and 37 adults enrolled in a night class. All subjects read a scenario from…