Childhood Sex-Typed Behavior and Sexual Orientation: A Conceptual Analysis and Quantitative Review

This article reviewed research examining the association between childhood sex-typed behavior and sexual orientation. Prospective studies suggest that childhood cross-sex-typed behavior is strongly predictive of adult homosexual orientation for men; analogous studies for women have not been performe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental psychology 1995-01, Vol.31 (1), p.43-55
Main Authors: Bailey, J. Michael, Zucker, Kenneth J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior
Behavior Patterns
Child Behavior
Child psychology
Childhood
Children & youth
Concept analysis
Gays & lesbians
Homosexuality
Human
Individual Development
Lesbianism
Literature Review
Play Style
Predictor Variables
Psychological Studies
Psychosexual Behavior
Reviews
Sex Role
Sex Roles
Sex typed behaviour
Sexual Identity
Sexual Orientation
Sexuality
Social research
Stereotyped Behavior
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Summary:This article reviewed research examining the association between childhood sex-typed behavior and sexual orientation. Prospective studies suggest that childhood cross-sex-typed behavior is strongly predictive of adult homosexual orientation for men; analogous studies for women have not been performed. Though methodologically more problematic, retrospective studies are useful in determining how many homosexual individuals displayed cross-sex behavior in childhood. The relatively large body of retrospective studies comparing childhood sex-typed behavior in homosexual and heterosexual men and women was reviewed quantitatively. Effect sizes were large for both men and women, with men's significantly larger. Future research should elaborate the causes of the association between childhood sex-typed behavior and sexual orientation and to identify correlates of within-orientation differences in childhood sex-typed behavior.
ISSN:0012-1649
1939-0599
DOI:10.1037/0012-1649.31.1.43