Abstract
Research on human sociality rarely includes kinship, social structure, sex, and familiarity, even though these variables influence sociality in non-human primates. However, cross-cultural ethnographic and observational studies with humans indicate that, beginning after age 5 years, males and females form differing social structures with unrelated individuals in a community. Specifically, compared with females, human males exhibit greater tolerance for and form larger, interconnected groups of peers which we term “gregariousness.” To examine sex differences in gregariousness early in life when children first interact with peers without adult supervision, 3- to 6-year-old children were given the choice to enter one of three play areas: an empty one, one with an adult, or one with a familiar, same-sex peer. More males than females initially chose the play area with the same-sex peer, especially after age 5 years. Sex differences in gregariousness with same-sex peers likely constitute one facet of human sociality.
Highlights
Sex differences in sociality in non-human mammals are well-documented
We used a chi-square test to compare the total number of male versus female focal children across both studies who chose the play area containing the same-sex peer
Empirical research likewise indicates that beginning at age 5 years and continuing into adulthood, unrelated human males are more likely than unrelated females to engage in cooperative activities (Barbu, Cabanes & Le Maner-Idrissi, 2011; Benenson, Apostoleris & Parnass, 1997; Hall, 2011; Winstead & Griffin, 2001)
Summary
Sex differences in sociality in non-human mammals are well-documented. With few exceptions, mammalian females spend more time than males with offspring (Trivers, 1972), whereas interaction with unrelated same-sex individuals varies by species (Wrangham, 1987). Female bonobos interact in groups of unrelated females along with their offspring, whereas males are relatively solitary (Chapman, White & Wrangham, 1994; Kano, 1992; White & Chapman, 1994). Mothers likewise invest more than fathers in their children, especially infants and vulnerable children (Brown, 1991; Konner, 2005; Konner, 2010). Researchers extrapolate this finding to all classes of individuals, producing the conclusion that human females are more sociable overall than males (Taylor et al, 2000; Winstead & Griffin, 2001).
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