Hassett Et Al Flashcards
What was the aim of the study by Hassett et al. (2008)?
To test if sex differences in children’s toy preferences are due to biological factors rather than socialisation.
The study also aimed to investigate whether male and female rhesus monkeys have similar toy preferences to human children.
What is the definition of animal play?
An activity/action voluntarily and repeatedly done by animals as a form of enjoyment and self-expression.
Play may be adaptive and can help individuals practice skills required for adulthood.
What does the nurture debate on toy preferences suggest?
Children learn about gender and societal norms through socialisation, leading them to conform to stereotypical gender roles.
This perspective suggests that children seek out sex-typed toys based on societal influences.
What is Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)?
An inherited condition where the foetus is exposed to high levels of prenatal androgens.
Research shows that girls with CAH show a preference for male-stereotyped toys when compared to girls without CAH.
What was the research method used in the study?
Field experiment involving controlled observation and a correlational study.
Data was collected using a behavioural checklist.
What was the independent variable in the study?
The sex of the monkey (male or female).
What was the dependent variable in the study?
Whether the monkeys interacted more with the plush toys or the wheeled toys.
How many monkeys were originally included in the sample?
135 monkeys.
What was the reason for excluding some monkeys from the study?
14 had previously participated in research on prenatal hormones and 39 were too young to determine their sex.
What types of toys were used in the trials?
6 wheeled toys and 7 plush toys.
Examples of wheeled toys include a wagon, truck, and car; plush toys included a Winnie-the-Pooh doll.
What was a significant finding regarding male monkeys’ toy preferences?
Male monkeys preferred wheeled toys over plush toys (mean = 9.77 vs. 2.06).
What was a significant finding regarding female monkeys’ toy preferences?
Female monkeys showed no significant preference, with a mean plush toys preference of 7.97 and wheeled toys preference of 6.96.
What correlation was found related to social rank?
A significant positive correlation between social rank and frequency of interaction with toys.
What conclusion was drawn about sex-typed preferences in humans?
They may be due to biological differences, as monkeys showed preferences similar to human infants.
What is one strength of the study?
Ethical guidelines on treating lab animals were followed.
What is one weakness of the study?
The standardised procedure was abandoned for a trial due to a monkey tearing a plush toy.
What does the nature vs nurture debate suggest about toy preferences?
Hassett believed that toy preferences in humans are due to nature, while social rank influenced interactions in female monkeys.
What application can be derived from the study’s findings?
Results suggest that boys like moving toys, so parents can choose toy vehicles to develop empathy.
Fill in the blank: The sex of mammals is determined by _______.
[sex chromosomes].
True or False: Male monkeys spent more time interacting with plush toys than female monkeys did.
False.
