Cognitive Explanation Of Gender Development

Question 0

Describe a gender study from this approach

Answer 0

Aim – to demonstrate that children do distort inconsistent information to fit their gender schemas

Method – researcher showed 5 and 6 year old children pictures of people carrying out activities, some schema-consistent and some schema-inconsistent.

Results – children recall of the pictures was tested a week later. Finding showed that recall for schema-consistent pictures were generally good. However recall for schema-inconsistent pictures were often distorted so the expected sex was carrying out the activity

Conclusion - children do use schemas to help them to make sense of their world

Question 1

Describe the cognitive approach explanation of gender development

Answer 1

 Focuses on the thinking behind gender
 We must understand what is happening in the mind

Theories:
Kohlberg cognitive-development theory
Gender schema theory

Question 2

Evaluate the cognitive explanation of gender development

Answer 2

• According to gender schema children identify with their own sex sooner than Kohlberg suggested
• Theory explains why children do not automatically copy same sex model but first look to see whether the behaviour is appropriate
• Take little account of the role of social interaction in development of gender – assuming that the process is largely passive
• Cognitive theories are often descriptive rather than explanatory
• Biological argue that – children are not so active in developing gender – genes and hormones control their development
• SLT argue that – children respond to role models form their environment – not enough focus on the social context
• Psychodynamic would criticise for focussing to much on the conscious element of gender development – consider the unconscious elements – however both agree on development in stages – but much more later on psychodynamic