Cognitive explanation - Kohlberg's theory Flashcards
What is the basis of Kohlberg’s theory?
Children’s understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated with age, not due to experience but rather biological maturation - as the brain matures so does thinking
Who carried out cross-cultural research supporting cognitive changes in Kohlberg’s theory are universal thus biological?
Munroe et al.
How is gender development thought to progress?
In 3 stages. Ages suggested are approximates and reflects transition from stages is gradual not sudden
What is stage 1 and what CAN they do around certain ages?
Gender identity
2 years - can correctly identify themselves as boy or girl
3 years - most able to identify others as male/female/boy/girl and correctly respond to questions like ‘which one of these is like you?’
In stage 1 what can they NOT do?
Understanding of gender cannot stretch beyond simple labelling and do not view gender as fixed. E.g. little boy says he wants to be a mummy
What is stage 2 and what CAN they do around certain ages?
Gender stability
4 years - realise they will always remain the same gender over time
In stage 2 what can they NOT do?
Cannot apply the same ‘stability through time’ logic to others. E.g. confused by external changes in appearance (man with long hair = woman) and that one can change gender if they engage in activities associated with a certain gender
What is stage 3 and what CAN they do around certain ages?
Gender constancy
6 years - gender is constant through time and situations and is applied to others as well. No longer fooled by external changes
What 3 features emerge at stage 3 for children?
- children begin to seek out gender appropriate role models to identify with and imitate
- when they fully internalise concept of gender they can embark on their own journey for evidence to support it
- gender stereotyping emerges
Who found evidence to support gender stereotyping emerges at stage 3?
William Damon
What did the researcher do to study gender stereotyping at age 6?
Damon told children about a boy called George who liked to play with dolls.
4 years - said it was fine to play with dolls if he wanted
6 years - said it was wrong for him to
Gone beyond understanding what boys and girls can do to making rules on what they ought to
What researchers challenged the idea that an interest in gender based behaviour only develops around age 6?
Bandura and Bussey
Children as young as 4 report feeling good about playing with gender appropriate toys and bad about the opposite.
Who claimed there were methodological problems in assessing gender constancy and carried out their own study?
Bem
How did the researcher demonstrate gender constancy in a better way?
Bem demonstrated 40% of children were able to demonstrate constancy if shown a naked photo of the child’s gender they were identifying. They based gender on more than just clothing.
Who argues that gender constancy develops in varying degrees rather than appearing suddenly at a specific stage and what did they say?
Carol Martin et al.
- Children don’t need complete gender constancy to start showing gender-typed preferences
- Even with a partial understanding of gender they may begin adopting behaviours that align with their perceived gender.
