Sex Differences in the Value of Parents versus Same-Sex Peers

Benenson, Joyce F.; Saelen, Cécile; Markovits, Henry; McCabe, Sarah

doi:10.1177/147470490800600103

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Specifically, research has established that human males interact in larger, more interconnected groups with unrelated same-sex peers, while females prefer isolated one-on-one interactions [7]–[9], a difference that appears in a nascent form in infancy [10] and has been linked with infant levels of testosterone [11]. Further, unrelated human males provide more instrumental assistance to one another than unrelated human females do [12]–[14]. One of humans’ two closest living genetic relatives, chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ), exhibits the same sex difference in social structure and instrumental benefits [15], [16], facilitating predictions regarding the relation between social structure and patterns of aggression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Exclusion: More Important to Human Females Than Males

et al. 2013

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Theoretical models based on primate evidence suggest that social structure determines the costs and benefits of particular aggressive strategies. In humans, males more than females interact in groups of unrelated same-sex peers, and larger group size predicts success in inter-group contests. In marked contrast, human females form isolated one-on-one relationships with fewer instrumental benefits, so social exclusion constitutes a more useful strategy. If this model is accurate, then human social exclusion should be utilized by females more than males and females should be more sensitive to its occurrence. Here we present four studies supporting this model. In Study 1, using a computerized game with fictitious opponents, we demonstrate that females are more willing than males to socially exclude a temporary ally. In Study 2, females report more actual incidents of social exclusion than males do. In Study 3, females perceive cues revealing social exclusion more rapidly than males do. Finally, in Study 4, females’ heart rate increases more than males’ in response to social exclusion. Together, results indicate that social exclusion is a strategy well-tailored to human females’ social structure.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Exclusion: More Important to Human Females Than Males

et al. 2013

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“…Further, the intimate, repetitive discussions of personal difficulties between girls can promote negative emotions, including depression [149]. Consequently, across cultures in middle childhood girls continue to rely on and maintain proximity to mothers, female relatives, teachers and other female adults [37,95,150,151].…”

Section: (V) Use Social Exclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women are less likely than men to engage in cooperative group activities with unrelated same-sex peers beginning in childhood [29][30][31] and continuing through adolescence [32,33] into adulthood [34][35][36][37][38][39]. In hunter -gatherer, agricultural and modern communities, young and middle-age men benefit from the support and skills of similarly aged men during hunting and warfare and other group pursuits.…”

Section: (A) Alliesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Across 173 cultures, adolescent girls spent more time than boys in close proximity to intergenerational familial members, assisting with domestic chores [32]. In adolescence and adulthood, compared with males, girls and women still view parents and parental substitutes as more important than an unrelated close friend for providing both instrumental and emotional assistance [37]. Adolescent girls more than boys ask medical and psychological personnel, teachers and other authority figures for assistance [173].…”

Section: (V) Use Social Exclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The development of human female competition: allies and adversaries

Benenson

2013

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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116

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Throughout their lives, women provide for their own and their children's and grandchildren's needs and thus must minimize their risk of incurring physical harm. Alliances with individuals who will assist them in attaining these goals increase their probability of survival and reproductive success. High status in the community enhances access to physical resources and valuable allies. Kin, a mate, and affines share a mother's genetic interests, whereas unrelated women constitute primary competitors. From early childhood onwards, girls compete using strategies that minimize the risk of retaliation and reduce the strength of other girls. Girls' competitive strategies include avoiding direct interference with another girl's goals, disguising competition, competing overtly only from a position of high status in the community, enforcing equality within the female community and socially excluding other girls.

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“…consider what a friend can do for them (Hall 2010), or which socioeconomic needs a certain peer can satisfy (Benenson et al 2008). Our reasoning implies that in a non-mating context among men competitive tendencies will prevail, and men are likely to prefer allies that are less attractive to the opposite sex than they are.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

A night on the town: when the importance of mate acquisition overrides intrasexual competition

Buunk

Massar

2014

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It is argued that, while men may be intrasexually more competitive than women, to attract potential mates, men will, more than women, associate with same-sex friends who are attractive to the opposite sex. Therefore, more than women, men will choose more physically attractive and dominant companions in a mating context than in a neutral context. In Study 1 among 262 participants a mating scenario (going to a party) and a neutral scenario (seeing a movie) were developed, and it was shown that the mating scenario did indeed induce more a mating context than the neutral scenario. In Study 2 among 167 participants the hypotheses were tested by examining the preferences for a companion in both scenarios. The findings from Study 2 supported the predictions. In response to the mating as compared to the neutral scenario, men, but not women, found the attractiveness of a companion more important, preferred a more socially dominant companion, and found the social dominance of a companion more important. Men as well as women preferred in general companions who were less attractive than themselves, but preferred a more attractive companion in a mating than in a neutral context. The effects for social dominance were in general more pronounced among individuals high in sociosexual orientation (SOI). To conclude especially mens' attitude towards same sex others in a mating context may be driven by the desire to associate, rather than to compete, with same-sex others who are attractive to the opposite sex.

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Sex Differences in the Value of Parents versus Same-Sex Peers

Cited by 11 publications

References 48 publications

Social Exclusion: More Important to Human Females Than Males

Social Exclusion: More Important to Human Females Than Males

The development of human female competition: allies and adversaries

A night on the town: when the importance of mate acquisition overrides intrasexual competition

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