Girls’ and boys’ choices of peer behavioral characteristics at age five

• Francisco Braza

  Spanish Council for Scientific Research

• José R. Sánchez-Martín

  University of the Basque Country

• Paloma Braza

  University of Cádiz

• Rosario Carreras

  University of Cádiz

• José M. Muñoz

  University of Cádiz

• Aitziber Azurmendi

  University of the Basque Country

• Iñaki Verdier

  University of Cádiz

We analyzed age differences in the behavioral profiles of the girls and boys chosen as play partners by same- and cross-sex peers at age 5 and the influence of these choices on subsequent behavior at 9 in a sample of 107 Spanish children. Girls chose girls who had an interest in resources and affective leadership, whereas boys chose boys interested in sport and rejected those preferring role-taking play. Both girls and boys who were preferred by boys at 5 showed low levels of maladaptive behaviors. We suggest that children’s selection of the type of play and behavior of their same-sex peers could be considered a relevant mechanism for explaining the adaptive role of sex segregation during childhood.

1. Francisco Braza, Spanish Council for Scientific Research
   Doñana Biological Station
2. José R. Sánchez-Martín, University of the Basque Country
   Faculty of Psychology
3. Paloma Braza, University of Cádiz
   Psychology Department
4. Rosario Carreras, University of Cádiz
   Psychology Department
5. José M. Muñoz, University of Cádiz
   Faculty of Psychology
6. Aitziber Azurmendi, University of the Basque Country
   Faculty of Psychology
7. Iñaki Verdier, University of Cádiz
   Psychology Department

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