The development of sex-typed behavior is influenced by many factors. The research of Patricia

Bauer at the University of Minnesota examined the early preferences of children for same sex
toys. Present two major findings of her research.

What implications does this research have for
the major gender development theories?
What will be an ideal response?

Findings:
1. children prefer same-sex toys even at earlyages and even if toy is not in good shape.
2. children prefer same-sex toys even if raised infamilies which have a non-traditional structure. The
video showed two mothers raising boys yet still the boy selected boy toys.
3. children prefer same-sex toys regardless of orientation of parents, whether heterosexual or
homosexual.
Implications for theories:
1. Psychoanalytic – cannot be identification if no father or mother is present, yet still select same-sex
toys.
2. Social – learning and modeling – again, no same-sex model present.
3. Reinforcement – may be involved, but children were very young.
4. Schema and gender constancy – preferences occur before cognitive models are demonstrated.
5. Biological – must play some role as preferences are very early.