GENDER DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSES TO FRIENDS HYPOTHETICAL GREATER SUCCESS

Based on previous findings in which the dynamics of friendships of gir ls and boys were shown to vary, it was believed that girls and boys wo uld differ in their caring about their friends' hypothetical greater s uccess. A questionnaire was completed by 18 girls and 23 boys from 7th and 8th grades about how much those adolescents cared about being suc cessful in sir domains and how much they would care if their closest f riends were successful and they were not successful in the sir domains . Boys cared more than girls did about athletics, whereas girls cared more than boys did about having close friends, However, girls indicate d that they would care more than bogs did about the success of their s ame-gender friends in the areas of romantic relationships, popularity, attractiveness, and close friendships. The implications of these gend er differences for self-evaluations and relationships are discussed.