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In a previous publication, we reported that on the whole, young children in four cultures predictably made same-sex role choices (e.g., girls preferring daughter to son). But contrary to prediction, we found that children in two patricentric societies (patrilineal descent, etc.) made fewer same-sex role choices than did those from two societies without gender-biased social principles (bilateral descent, etc.) This surprising finding, which constituted an acknowledged puzzle for interpretation, prompted the current reanalysis of the dataset. Our new analysis has led to two conclusions: (a) children from the two patricentric societies, besides scoring lower on same-sex role choices, also scored a good deal lower on cognitive-performance tests, so they were generally poor test-takers; and (b) children in one of the patricentric societies—though not in any of the other samples—expressed a strong preference for higher-generation roles (i.e., mother and father). Discussion centers on plausible interpretations of these new-found results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how societal changes associated with modernization are related to cognitive development. Data were from 4 cultural communities that represented a broad range of traditional and modern elements: the Garifuna (Belize), Logoli (Kenya), Newars (Nepal), and Samoans (American Samoa). Naturalistic observations and the performances of 3-, 5-, 7-, and 9-year-old children (N = 192) on 7 cognitive measures were examined. Results replicated age-related improvement on all measures. Contributions of modernity were evident in children’s play behaviors and cognitive performances, especially in skills related to schooling. Modernization and schooling independently predicted differences on most of the measures. Results are discussed in relation to the Flynn effect, the worldwide increase in cognitive scores across generations, and the ways in which societal modernization may contribute to cognitive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioral aggression was observed among 192 3- to 9-year-old children in naturalistic settings in Belize, Kenya, Nepal, and American Samoa. Results showed that (a) boys exhibited aggression in approximately 10% of their social behaviors, girls in 6%, and in all four cultures the aggression of boys was more frequent than that of girls at a marginally significant level or better; (b) the aggression of boys occurred in the presence of large numbers (and proportions) of same-sex peers; (c) aggression declined with age; (d) only 5% of children's aggressive interaction was directed toward adults (individuals aged 17 years or older), whereas 30% of their other, nonaggressive interaction was directed toward adults; (e) the presence of either parent tended to be associated with less aggression; and (D aggression was displayed more frequently in the two patrilineal cultures (Kenya and Nepal) and less frequently in the other two cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]