Sex stereotypes in adult-infant play.

24 14-month-old infants played with adult strangers in a laboratory playroom. To examine the effects of sex-role labeling on adult behavior, each infant was introduced as a boy and as a girl in 2 different sessions. After controlling for the adult's scores on the Spence-Helmreich Attitudes toward Women Scale, the adults were found to engage in more Encouragement for Activity and more Male Role Toy Choice when playing with children designated as boys. They showed more Interpersonal Stimulation and more Nurturance Play when playing with children designated as girls. No significant differences were observed between the behavior of the real girls and boys. Men and women showed some differences in their style of play.