ABSTRACT
Casual observers as well as scholars recognize that children across the globe spend several years of their lives in play that is largely segregated by sex. In general, there were striking similarities in both the topics discussed and the objectives guiding the conversations of the young men and women involved in this study. From the open-ended listings of topics, as well as from comments regarding what made participants feel good about the conversation, young men and women appear to have a slightly different focus when discussing other people, particularly members of the opposite sex. To a large extent, young men apparently intend to engage in conversation to have fun and are quite satisfied with the way they do it. In summary, the present study revealed substantial similarity in the objectives pursued by both young men and young women-in particular showing interest in and positive affect toward the other participant as well as making the conversation pleasurable.
