Two directions of influence in the socialization process are examined: the influence of the child (primarily the infant) upon parental behavior, and the influence of parental attempts to "appropriately" sex type the infant. Despite the fact that male and female roles are defined similarly in the majority of the world's cultures, little experimental evidence could be found that would support the hypothesis that differently sexed infants have different behavioral predispositions that encourage sex typing along traditional lines. Relatively more influence in the sex-typing process appears to flow from the parents, although the infant appears to influence parental behavior to some extent by simply presenting the parents with either a "boy" or a "girl" stimulus configuration. Although infants appear to be relatively passive figures in the sex-typing process, they are seen to be active participants in, and initiators of, social activity. As a result, it is suggested that our socialization theories begin to consider the extent to which children influence their own socialization. Finally, it is suggested that in order to adequately understand the socialization/sex-typing process, we must begin to design studies that investigate the interaction of children of both sexes with both parents. (Author)