cognitive explanation: Kohlberg's theory

Question 1

explain stage:1 of Kohlberg’s gender constancy theory

Answer 1

• gender identity
• develops at 2
• they can label gender but only based off appearance, and can’t label their own gender

Question 2

explain stage:2 of Kohlberg’s gender constancy theory

Answer 2

• gender stability
• develops by 4
• realise they will always remain the same gender
• but cannot apply to all situations eg. man w/ long hair = woman

Question 3

explain stage:3 of Kohlberg’s gender constancy theory

Answer 3

• gender consistency
• develops by 6
• realise gender remains constant for everyone in all situations
• no longer fooled by misleading outward appearances

Question 4

name the 3 stages of Kohlberg’s gender constancy theory

Answer 4

• gender identity
• gender stability
• gender consistency

Question 5

evaluate evidence to support the sequence of stages?

Answer 5

• STRENGTH
• Slaby and Frey presented children with split-screen images of male and females performing the same tasks
• children in gender consistency stage spent longer looking at the model who was the same gender as them
• shows Kohlberg was correct in his assumption that children with consistancy will actively seek gender appropriate models

Question 6

evaluate consistency is not supported?

Answer 6

• WEAKNESS
• undermined by the fact that many children demonstrate gender appropriate behaviour before gender consistancy
• Bandura repotted that children ‘felt good’ about playing with gender appropriate toys and bad when not doing so before gender consistency age
• contradicts to Kohlberg

Question 7

evaluate methodological issues?

Answer 7

• WEAKNESS
• Kohlberg developed theory using interviews with children who were as young as 2
• they may have had complex views on gender but don’t posses the ability to express their understanding
• therefore what they expressed in the interview may not accurately convey their understanding