Research supported by grant 61 from the Ontario Mental Health Foundation.

Examines whether there are gender differences in changes in the aggregate level and individual stability of conduct problems from early adolescence to early adulthood. Analyzes self-reported data from a study of Norwegian adolescents. Analyses showed that involvement in conduct problems for both genders peaked in mid-adolescence. In the long term,…

Based on a doctoral dissertation presented by the first-named author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree under the supervision of the second-named author

Examines the role of gender in preschoolers with behavior problems. Child characteristics, parent characteristics, and independent assessment of mother-child interactions were conducted. Few differences between the sexes were observed for any variables. Girls and boys shared more similarities than differences in terms of origins and developmental…

The activity level of preschool boys relative to preschool girls was observed to find whether a sex-linked pattern of hyperactivity is observable in the general population. Boys were found to be more active than girls, with patterns similar to those included in definitions of hyperactivity. (GO)

Ninety-two clinically normal infants (48 male, 44 female) were tested at 2 and 90 days of age to examine the continuity of newborn behavior through early infancy across a broad range of behaviors. (MP)

Study surveys secondary school students (N=4,773) about five items concerning the circumstances of smoking initiation: age at first cigarette; source of supply; location of first smoke; persons present; and perceived degree of coercion. Although there was a highly significant gender difference on the item concerning age at first cigarette, with…

Longitudinal data concerning fear responses in 30 boys and 30 girls observed from ages one month to 8 1/2 years suggest that in males--but not in females--a predisposition to a particular level of fearfulness is set by events that occurred before 6 months of age. (Author/MG)

Self-esteem's effect on the tendency to convey a false impression by hiding one's feelings behind a facade was studied in youth aged 8 to 19. Lower self-esteem was associated with the tendency to present a false front. Vulnerability to criticism, self-consciousness, fantasy, and age and gender differences are discussed. (Author/CM)

Investigated sex differences in the behavior patterns of toddlers and subsequent parental reactions. Data was obtained from observations in the homes of subjects, and compared to parents' answers on a child rearing questionnaire. (DP)

Differences between males and females have been documented for a number of behaviors. Among the environmental determinants of the development of behavioral sex differences is differential treatment of girls and boys by their parents and teachers. This paper reviews and comments on the research literature concerning differential socialization of…

This study investigated the social behavior patterns of children who worked on a cooperative task. Several ways of increasing interdependence were explored, and the effects of such methods on task performance were determined. Seventy six same-sex triads of fourth and fifth graders were asked to cooperate in making a block-picture on a round board.…

This study examined the effects of differentially characterizing a model as "good", "bad", or "neutral" on preschool children's subsequent evaluation and imitation of the model. The model's aggressive and motor behaviors were more frequently imitated than were his non-aggressive and verbal behaviors. Instructions influenced the Ss' evaluation of…

Deals with biologically based sex differences in early childhood. Strategy is to assume that the earlier a particular behavioral difference appears in the life cycle, the more likely it is influenced by biological factors. Such biological influences may lead to differences in fear, cognitive functioning and variability between boys and girls.…

Middle class Japanese children whose willingness to cheat in a game had been observed at age four were administered a version of a Machiavellianism scale seven years later. Developmental changes in Machiavellianism, sex differences, and belief behavior congruency were considered in the Japanese cultural context. (Author/GC)