Describes differences in the socialization setting provided by all-boy and all-girl play groups, and explores possible reasons for children's tendency to congregate in same-sex groups. Considers three classes of possible explanatory processes: biological factors, socialization pressures from adults, and gender cognitions. (RH)

Examined children's beliefs about the origins of gender differences and age-related changes in these beliefs. Findings suggested that young children may have an early bias to view gender categories as predictive of essential, underlying similarities between members but later come to acknowledge the role of other causal mechanisms in shaping how…