Cognitive explanations: Kohlberg's theory

Question 1

What is Kohlbergs theory based on?

Answer 1

The idea that a childs understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated with age - biological maturation

Question 2

How many stages are there to gender development in his theory?

Answer 2

3

Question 3

What are those stages called?

Answer 3

Stage 1: Gender identity
Stage 2: Gender stability
Stage 3: Gender constancy

Question 4

What are the ages for stage 1?

Answer 4

2 - 3 years old

Question 5

What is the first stage - gender identity?

Answer 5

children can correctly identify themselves as a boy or girl at around 2 years of age
- at 3 years, most children can identify other people as boys/men and women/girls
- gender isn’t fixed

Question 6

What are the ages for stage 2?

Answer 6

4 years old

Question 7

What is stage 2 - gender stability?

Answer 7

Realization that they’ll stay the same gender
- Cannot apply the same logic to others
- Often confused by external changes in appearance
- EG: man with long hair = woman
- Believe that people change genders if they engage in activities associated with the opposite gender

Question 8

What is the age for stage 3?

Answer 8

6 years old

Question 9

What is stage 3 - gender constancy?

Answer 9

• recognize that gender stays constant across time and situations
• Applied to other peoples gender too
• No longer fooled by outward changes to appearance
• Begin to seek out gender appropriate role models
• Once the concept has been fully developed and internalized, seek evidence that confirms it
• A tendency towards gender stereotyping begins to emerge

Question 10

What are strengths of this theory?

Answer 10

• Evidence suggests gender stereotyping does occur around the age of 6
• Kohlbergs stage are influenced by changes in the developing brain and increased intellectual capacity that comes with age

Question 11

What evidence supports stage 3?

Answer 11

Damon told children a story of George
- George liked to play with dolls
- Children were asked to comment on the story
- 4 year olds said it was fine for him to play with dolls
- 6 year olds thought it was wrong
- Had gone beyond understanding what boys and girls do, to developing rules that they should obey
- Suggests children who have reached constancy have formed rigid stereotypes

Question 12

Why is ‘Kohlbergs stage are influenced by changes in the developing brain and increased intellectual capacity that comes with age’ a strength?

Answer 12

• A ‘nature’ approach
• Supported by cross cultural research (munroe et al)
• Suggested that the cognitive changes described may be universal
• Means they may be biological

Question 13

What are limitations to the theory?

Answer 13

• Some research challenges the idea of gender constancy at age 6
• Supporting research relies on unsatisfactory methods to assess gender constancy
• Other researchers suggest different degrees of gender constancy
• Kohlberg fails to properly account for the socialization process in the development of gender early on

Question 14

How is ‘- Some research challenges the idea that an interest in gender appropriate behavior only develops around age 6’ a limitation?

Answer 14

Bussey and Bandura found that children as young as 4 ‘feel good’ about playing with gender appropriate toys
- They ‘feel bad’ about doing the opposite
- Suggests children are able to absorb gender appropriate info as soon as they identify themselves as either male or female

Question 15

How is ‘Supporting research relies on unsatisfactory methods to assess gender constancy’ a limitation?

Answer 15

Bem criticised the methodology in many studies trying to link gender and cognitive development
- Key test of gender constancy is whether a child understands that gender stays the same despite changes in appearance and context
- Bem argued children are confused by this as this is how we separate one gender from another

Question 16

Further explain Bem’s argument?

Answer 16

• Identify men and women by their clothes and hair
• Best way to identify genders through physical appearance (genitalia)
• Something younger children dont understand
• Bem shown that 40% of children aged 3-5 were able to demonstrate constancy if shown a naked photo of children

Question 17

What does Bem’s argument and findings suggest?

Answer 17

The typical way of testing constancy may misrepresent what younger children actually know

Question 18

How is ‘Other researchers suggest different degrees of gender constancy’ a limitation?

Answer 18

Martin et al praise Kohlberg’s theory for suggesting childrens understanding of their own and others genders guides their thoughts and behaviours
- Point out that when and how this affects childrens gender related behaviour is unclear
- May be different degree of gender constancy

Question 19

Further explain Martin et al’s argument

Answer 19

An initial degree may orient children to the importance of gender in choosing friends or seeking info
- May develop before the age 6
- A second degree of constancy may heighten children’s responsiveness to gender norms, esp under conditions of conflict
> like choosing appropriate clothes

Question 20

What does Martin et al’s argument suggest?

Answer 20

Acquiring constancy may be a more gradual process and may begin earlier than Kohlberg thought

Question 21

How is ‘Kohlberg fails to properly account for the socialization process in the development of gender early on’ a limitation?

Answer 21

Bussey and Bandura claim that social processes of observation, imitation and identification plays a more important role than cognitive structures