The Main Behavioral and Cognitive Differences between Boys and Girls (Middle Ghildhood)

It is evident that boys and girls have many physical differences since they are born. Everybody can distinguish between a girl and a boy physical appearance, however, do girls and boys differ on behavior and intellectual aspects? The answer to this question is yes. Girls and boys are different from each other in the way they behave and think since they are kids, and not until they get a more mature age, as more people think. Thus, this entry will lecture a little about the main behavioral and cognitive differences between boys and girls during middle childhood.Each person is unique and different from others. Thus, there are some specific behaviors and ways of thinking that can be grouped into girls and boys normal or common behaviors and thoughts at specific ages. These differences in cognitive and behaviors between girls and boys arise from biological or psychosocial basis, and as they grow older; kids start assuming behaviors that are unique to their gender. In this case, we will consider kinds in middle childhood (6-9 years-old).

Cognitive differences:

Ø Recent studies indicate that there are differences in the brain development of boys and girls, beginning as young as 5 to 7 years of age. Girls develop faster and often perform better in school than boys. Some research  even suggests that girls have a better sense of hearing than boys, which could, in part,  explain girls’ higher academic performance

Ø . Research shows that males are more likely to use one side of the brain for a given task, while females use both sides of the brain. Because girls access both the thinking and feeling functions of the brain at the same time, they process information best when it is presented in a larger context. In general, boys prefer information presented in an objective and fact-oriented manner.

Behavioral differences:

Ø Girls and boys have different standards and evaluate themselves differently. Although girls typically do better in school than boys, they are less confident and more likely to be critical of their own academic performance. Boys, on the other hand, tend to have unrealistically high views of their own academic abilities and accomplishments. Some girls may even hold back in school as they try to fit in with peers and avoid surpassing boys.

Ø Girls and boys have different internal motivations. Some girls may be motivated by paying attention to the needs of others, while boys might find motivation in doing what is fair or right. Girls at all ages may think more of other people when they make a decision. They also may be reluctant to judge right and wrong because they were raised to be nurturing and nonjudgmental. Often, girls place more emphasis on compassion and care, and boys are more concerned with honor and justice.

Now, it is clear for all of us why boys and girls react differently to singular situations in life. Most of the time, we compare girls’ and boys’ behaviors and we would like them to act in the same way without thinking that they differences arise from biological aspects and not because they want to be in that way.   

In conclusion, all this information can be useful for parents and teachers to realize the different needs that boy and girls have so that we as adults can really fulfill and understand our kids. 

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    v References: 

       “Understanding Children and Adolescents,” of Program Basics: The Definitive Program Resource for Boys & Girls Clubs (Atlanta, Ga.: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 1999).