Love is not enough: Determinants of adolescent preference for other-sex and same-sex peers

Determinants of social acceptance of same-sex and other-sex peers were investigated. Seven hundred and seventy-four sixth, seventh and eighth grade students rated their acceptance of each of their classmates, boys and girls, using a social acceptance scale, ranging from casual to intimate diadic interactions. It was found that: (a) males' friendships were as intimate as those of females, (b) status attributes of the target affected choice of friends made by males and females to about the same extent, (c) cross-sex choices (which presumably increased the respondent's status) were associated with a smaller number of desirable qualities of the target, compared to same-sex choices, and (d) similar patterns were also found for intimate interactions characterizing relations between best friends. Differences between the present data and former findings were related to differences in questions raised and measures employed.