title: Sex differences during the early separation-individuation process: implications for gender identity formation.
abstract: Observations made in a nursery setting of 22 infants 9 to 12 months old suggest that girls become aware of psychological separateness earlier than do boys. The nature of the infant's means of coping, the relation to mother and to play objects, and maternal handling differences are also reported. Implications for gender identity formation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, New York City.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Olesker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000374:Aggression; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D010379:Peer Group; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012737:Sex Factors