Premium
Sex‐typing in infancy: The role of the father
Author(s) -
Power Thomas G.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0355(198124)2:4<226::aid-imhj2280020405>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - developmental psychology , socialization , psychology , early childhood , differential treatment , differential (mechanical device) , international trade , engineering , business , aerospace engineering
Recent research on mother‐infant interaction has provided little empirical support for the role of environmental factors in early sex‐role development. In this paper, considerable support for the father's role is presented. Specifically, the research on mother‐ and father‐infant interaction patterns is reviewed in order to describe developmental changes in the nature of differential treatment of the sexes during the first two years of life. Together, the studies reviewed highlight the importance of the father in early sex‐role socialization, delineate a developmental model of the early differential treatment of the sexes, and provide clues as to the origins of later childhood sex differences in verbal and visual‐spatial abilities.