Cognitive Explanations: Gender Schema Theory Flashcards
Define Schema:
- mental representation of aspect of the world
- Related items come together to make a concept
- cognitive framework
Describe Gender schema theory by Martin and Halverson (1981):
Theory argues that a child’s thinking is at the basis of their development of gender role behaviours
- child understands gender with age
- Schemas about gender become fixed in beliefs in childhood
What does Martin and Halverson (1981) agree with Kohlberg?
- Child’s thinking is at the basis of their development of gender role behaviours
- understanding increases with age
- Develop occurs due to actively structuring own learning than passively observing models
What does Martin and Halverson (1981) disagree with Kohlberg?
- Process starts at earlier stage
- Basic gender identity is enough for child to identify themselves
- Children learn through observation from 2 years of age
Define Gender Schema:
Organised set of beliefs and expectations related to gender derived from experience
How can a gender schema develop?
-due to TV, interactions with adults, with children
Define In group:
attitudes and expectations about one’s own gender
Define Out group:
attitudes and expectations about the other gender
Findings of Martin and Halverson (1983):
Children under age of six more likely to remember gender-consistent information than gender-inconsistent information
Is gender schema rigid?
Yes
Little and Martin (1990):
Found that children under the age of four, who showed no signs of gender stability or constancy, nevertheless demonstrated strongly sex-typed behaviours and attitudes
Does Little and Martin (1990) support the gender schema theory?
Yes
Gender schema is concerned with how organisation of information affects….
memory. (Explains why gender-inconsistent information is forgotten)
Gender constancy is more linked to …
motivation. (Motivated ti find out more of this role after firmly established concept)
Why does gender schema overemphasis on the role of the individual in gender development?
Doesn’t not pay enough attention to role of social factors such as parental influence and media.
-Ignores role of reward and punishment (SLT)