Cognitive explanations: Gender Schema theory Flashcards
Define Gender Schema.
beliefs/ expectations related to gender, via experience. Schema guides person’s understanding of own gender and stereotypically gender-appropriate behaviour.
Describe Martin and Halverson’s Gender Schema theory.
children’s understanding of gender develops with age via experience that observing/ imitating.
Define schema
mental constructs develop via experience used by cognitive system to organise knowledge of topics.
What happens to the gender schema after gender identity, how do this contrast Kohlberg?
Once kid established gender identity, 2-3 yrs, begin search enviro for info that encourages gender schema development.
Contrasts Kohlberg that process begins after 3 stages.
How does the gender schema determine behaviour?
Schemas built round stereotypical behvaiour, directs experience and understanding.
By 6, kid stereotypical idea about gender-appropriate behaviour= forget behaviour doesn’t fit in schema.
Kids better understanding schema of own gender.
Not until older (8) develop elaborate schema for both genders.
Strength of Gender Schema theory, in terms of supporting evidence.
Martin and Halverson- kids under 6 remembered stereotypically gender- appropriate behaviour pics than gender-inappropriate behaviour pics.
Tested week later corrected gender in photos so behvaiour appropriate.
Supports prediction under 6’s would do this.
Limitation of Gender schema theory, in terms of gender identity developing earlier than Martin and Halverson suggested.
Zosuls’ s Longitudinal study- 82 kids looked at onset gender identity.
Reports from mums on kids language from 9-21 months of when kids labelled themselves ‘girl’ ‘boy’.
Occurred 19 months when could communicate.
Counterpoint of gender identity developing earlier than Martin and Halverson suggested.
Kids move through stages quicker/ slower than others, development more important than ages.
Suggests Zosuls’ s finding not criticism
