The effect of different degrees of pupil imitation on male and female tutors' attitudes and behavior was investigated in this study. Subjects were 72 sixth grade students, half male and half female. A 3 x 2 x 2 factorial design was used (Pupil Imitation--Low, Medium, and High; Pupil Liking--Medium and High; and Sex--Male and Female). After two sessions of tutoring, tutors completed an opinion form in the presence of their pupils. Tutors were told that their pupils would complete an identical form but were in fact shown forms completed by the experimenter. Tutors were also shown a Tutor Evaluation Questionnaire supposedly completed by their pupils but in fact completed by the experimenter. Tutors were subsequently asked to complete an attitudinal measure dealing with their pupils and the tutoring experience. An analysis of data suggests that female tutors responded favorably to imitation by their pupils while male tutors preferred independent behavior on the part of their tutees. The results suggest that there may be an optimal level of conformity for children that varies depending on the sex of the child. (HMD)