According to Dunphy, the third step in the sequence of male–female relationships during childhood and adolescence is the development of small mixed-sex groups.
Dunphy argued that in adolescence, small mixed-sex friendship groups usually precede male-female romantic relationships. When children are younger (pre-pubescent) they typically have less interest in forming friendships with children of the opposite sex. However, post-adolescence, they tend to be part of mixed-sex friendship groups.