Social Heterosexual Development among Urban Negroes and Whites

Social heterosexual development during preand early adolescence was examined with a questionnaire and derived index of social heterosexuality which permitted interracial comparisons by sex and age. The most striking difference between the races occurred during the preadolescent and pubescence ages of 10-13. At these ages, the white children showed the traditional pattern: girls were far more romantically oriented than boys although at about the same level in terms of actual heterosexual interaction. Negro boys, however, showed a high level of preadolescent heterosexual interest and involvement together with an apparent progressive disenchantment with marriage. These findings suggest that the pattern of social heterosexual development in the Negro subculture may differ markedly from that in the dominant culture.