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Sex differences during the early separation-individuation process: implications for gender identity formation
1Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, New York City.
Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|January 1, 1990
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.
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.
- 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.