Psychology Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Assessment | Biopsychology | Comparative | Cognitive | Developmental | Language | Individual differences | Personality | Philosophy | Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |

Animals · Animal ethology · Comparative psychology · Animal models · Outline · Index


There is some evidence that animals can display similar sex based toy selection as humans.[1]

Research at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center has also shown that toy selection may be biological based among primates. Yerkes researchers studied the interactions of 11 male and 23 female Rhesus monkeys with human toys, both wheeled and plush. The males played mostly with the wheeled toys while the females played with both types equally.[2] Psychologist Kim Wallen has, however, warned against overinterpeting the results as the color and size of the toys may also have been factors in the monkey's behavior.[3]

See also[]

References & Bibliography[]

  1. *Williams, C. L., & Pleil, K. E. (2008). Toy story: Why do monkey and human males prefer trucks? : Hormones and Behavior Vol 54(3) Aug 2008, 355-358.
  2. includeonly>"Yerkes Researchers Find Sex Differences in Monkey Toy Preferences Similar to Humans", Yerkes National Primate Research Center, April 10, 2008. Retrieved on 2012-09-29.
  3. Male monkeys prefer boys' toys. New Scientist. URL accessed on 2010-04-17.

Further reading[]

  • Alexander, G. M. (2003). An evolutionary perspective of sex-typed toy preferences: Pink, blue, and the brain: Archives of Sexual Behavior Vol 32(1) Feb 2003, 7-14.
  • Alexander, G. M., & Hines, M. (2002). Sex differences in response to children's toys in nonhuman primates (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus): Evolution and Human Behavior Vol 23(6) Nov 2002, 467-479.
  • Apple, J. K., & Craig, J. V. (1992). The influence of pen size on toy preference of growing pigs: Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 35(2) Nov 1992, 149-155.
  • Hassett, J. M., Siebert, E. R., & Wallen, K. (2008). Sex differences in rhesus monkey toy preferences parallel those of children: Hormones and Behavior Vol 54(3) Aug 2008, 359-364.
  • Hines, M., & Alexander, G. M. (2008). Monkeys, girls, boys and toys: A confirmation letter regarding "Sex differences in toy preferences: Striking parallels between monkeys and humans." Hormones and Behavior Vol 54(3) Aug 2008, 478-479.

Dissertations[]

External links[]

Advertisement