William Atkins
Saturday, 28 June 2008 21:43
Science -
Biology
Page 2 of 3
The researchers used 87 four-year-old children in the study. They divided them into three same-sex groups: 15 female groups and 14 male groups.
In several trials the researchers gave each group either one, two, or three animal-shaped puppets that all the children considered very valuable.
The researchers found that the sexes behaved differently when only one puppet was present versus when there were two or three puppets available for the groups.
The boys were found to ask to get possession and control of the puppet. When another boy possessed the sole puppet, the other boys would grab at it or run after boy that had the puppet.
However, the girls without the puppet would ignore the girl that possessed it. Often the other girls would not allow the girl with the puppet to participate with them in their activities. They would also talk about her behind her back, and even hide from her. Such actions are called
"exclusive coalitions."
Benenson concluded that such actions by the pre-school girls might explain why females, in general, are more jealous than males with regards to same-sex friendships. She stated that females may be securing and protecting themselves from exclusive coalitions
.
ABC News reports what American social anthropologist
Melissa Emery Thompson stated about the study. Please read on.
