| Abstract: | 2 studies of 8- and 11- year-old children explored factors related to willingness $$. Study I assessed baseline gender prefernces and gender-reiatd cognitive flexibility. While older children were found to have greater congnitive flexibility, and older boys had more stereotyped preferences, such questionnaire measures were not highly predictive of gender-atraditional behavior. Study 2 explored the parameters of vicarious social reinforcement in the symbolic modeling of gender-atraditional behavior. Peer reinforcers were more effective with younger children and on child-oriented tasks, whereas adult reinforcers were more effective with older children and on adult-oriented gender tasks. Both studies found that considerably more atraditional behavior was elicited with male examiners, suggesting more attention needs to be paid to this variable. Possible mechanisms underlying this effect are discussed. |
