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Related Experiment Videos

Sex differences during the early separation-individuation process: implications for gender identity formation.

W Olesker1

  • 1Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, New York City.

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Girls develop a sense of psychological separateness earlier than boys, observed in 22 infants aged 9-12 months. The study also examined coping mechanisms, object relations, and maternal handling, with implications for gender identity.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Infant Psychology
  • Gender Studies

Background:

  • Understanding early gender differences in psychological development is crucial.
  • Infant awareness of separateness is a key developmental milestone.
  • Maternal interaction significantly influences infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential gender differences in the emergence of psychological separateness in infants.
  • To explore the relationship between coping mechanisms, object relations, and maternal handling in early development.
  • To discuss the implications of these findings for gender identity formation.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study conducted in a nursery setting.
  • Involved 22 infants aged 9 to 12 months.

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  • Data collected on infant behavior, interactions, and maternal handling.

    • Main Results:

    • Infant girls demonstrated earlier awareness of psychological separateness compared to infant boys.
    • Differences were noted in infants' coping strategies, relations with mothers and play objects.
    • Maternal handling styles varied between groups, potentially influencing developmental trajectories.

    Conclusions:

    • Early awareness of psychological separateness may be gender-dependent.
    • Infant coping, object relations, and maternal handling are interconnected factors in development.
    • Findings contribute to understanding the foundational aspects of gender identity formation.