Abstract
Films of adults were shown to 1,930 middle- and lower-class boys and girls to ascertain the effects of sex of adult and role of adult (supportive, neutral) on children's preferences for the adults. Both younger and older boys and girls showed a strong tendency to prefer adults of their own sex. Preference for the supportive as contrasted with the neutral adult was found in certain subgroups. The role played by the adult significantly influenced the frequency of like-sex choices made by middle-class girls and lower-class boys but not of those made by lower-class girls and middle-class boys. The adults preferred by children were found to be those who had been the more effective reinforcing agents with other adults in a prior study.
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