Abstract
Males are observed in several nonhuman primate species to exhibit a subadult stage not shared by females. While females are gradually integrated into the group upon reaching reproductive age, some older adolescent males remain apart (i.e., peripheral), associating largely with same-sex peers. Evidence regarding an analogous stage in the development of human males 18 to 20 years old was sought by an analysis of the relative frequencies of various age-sex groupings in public. Over 10,000 groups were observed in shopping malls, and the estimated age and sex of each member were recorded. A significantly greater than expected frequency of exclusively subadult male groups (three to four members) was found relative to female or mixed-sex groups of the same age.
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This research was completed in part through funding from the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation. The programming expertise of Douglas Kalk and the valuable assistance of Barbara Kirkevold, Barbara Boni, and Gordon Naccarato in the conduct of the study are gratefully appreciated.
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Lockard, J.S., Adams, R.M. Peripheral males: A primate model for a human subgroup. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 15, 295–298 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334538
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334538