1. 1 Psychology 320: Psychology of Gender and Sex Differences Lecture 34

2. 2 Office Hour Invitations January 13 th, 11:30-12:30 Kenny 2517 10662070 16925075 18424119 23885098 41735093 74735093 75279091 77033090

3. 3 Announcements 1. CSL student: 65134116. Please see me after class today. 2. I have posted sample papers for Options A and B on the course website. If you would like to discuss your ideas for the paper, please feel free to meet with me or your TA.

4. 4 Friendship: 2. How do cross-sex friendships differ from same-sex friendships? 1. Are there sex differences in same-sex friendship? (continued)

5. 5 2. identify barriers to closeness in same-sex friendships associated with the male gender role. 3. distinguish between types of competition and their impact on same-sex friendships. By the end of today’s class, you should be able to: 1. discuss sex differences in same-sex friendship.

6. 6 5. discuss the prevalence of cross-sex vs. same-sex friendships. 4. review research regarding sex differences in conflict in same-sex friendships.

7. 7 Are there sex differences in same-sex friendship? (continued) 6. Relationship conflict:  Research indicates that females experience greater conflict in their same-sex friendships than males (Benenson & Christakos, 2003):  Females and males report similar sources of conflict in same-sex friendships (Helgeson, 2008).

8. 8 Females’ closest friendships are of shorter duration than males’ closest friendships. Females are more likely than males to report that their closest friends did something to hurt them. Females have more friendships end than males.

9. 9  Researchers attribute the more frequent termination of friendships among females to the use of relational aggression (versus direct discussion and expression of anger, which are more common among males; Benenson & Christakos, 2003; Helgeson et al., 1987).

10. 10 How do cross-sex friendships differ from same-sex friendships? Males and females have fewer cross-sex friendships than same-sex friendships. For both sexes, the number of cross-sex friendships and time spent with cross-sex friends increases from childhood to young adulthood:

11. 11  Among college students, women and men report that 27% of their closest friends are of the opposite sex (Sheets & Lugar, 2005).  Among college students, 30% of women and 40% of men are able to identify at least one friend of the opposite sex (Wright, 1989).  Among adolescents, 52% of girls and 41% of boys reported a cross-sex friend as one of their closest friends (Kuttler et al., 1999).  Cross-sex friendships are rare in childhood.

12. 12 Time Spent with Same-Sex and Cross-Sex Friends as a Function of Age (Johnson, 2004)

13. 13 In old age, males are more likely than females to have cross-sex friends due to the higher mortality rate of males.

14. 14 Friendship: 2. How do cross-sex friendships differ from same-sex friendships? 1. Are there sex differences in same-sex friendship? (continued)