An experimental analysis of modeling under different simulated family dynamics tested whether preschool children would pattern behavior after an adult who possessed power over rewarding resources or after the consumer of these resources (Bandura et al., 1963b). The children modeled their behavior after social power, except for the power constellation in which the female possessed the resources rather than the male. A number of the children dispossessed the female model of her power status by treating her as merely an intermediary of male ownership. As the preschoolers explained it in their unreserved way, "He's the man and it's all his because he's a daddy. Mommy never really has things belong to her"... "He's the daddy so it's his but he shares nice with the mommy"..."He's the man and the man always really has the money and he lets ladies play too. John's good and polite and he has very good manners" (p.533). These children modeled their behavior after attributed social power rather than actual power. In short, it is events as perceived that shape developmental courses. To clarify parental influences one should also assess children's perception of their parent's status and practices rather than rely solely on a mechanistic model of direct environmental effects.