Cognitive Explanations of Gender Development - Kohlberg's Theory Flashcards
What is Stage 1?
Gender Identity - children can correctly identify themselves as a boy or girl. 2-3 years old. They can identify other people as male or female, but do not understand gender is permanent.
What is Stage 2?
Age 4 - Gender Stability. This is the realisation they will always stay the same gender, but they cannot apply this to other situations. They are confused by atypical superficial features.
What is Stage 3?
Age 6 - Gender Constancy. This is where they recognise that gender remains constant and consistent across all time and situations. They are no longer fooled by superficial changes.
What is the strength - supporting evidence?
Slaby and Frey said that children were presented with split-screen images of males and females performing the same task. Young children spent equal time focussing on either one. Children in gender constancy spent longer looking at the same-sex model. This proves Kohlberg. correct that children in constancy seek gender-appropriate role models.
What is the limitation - constancy not supported?
Kohlberg’s theory is undermined by the observation that many children begin to demonstrate gender-appropriate behaviour before gender constancy is achieved. Bussey and Bandura reported children as young as 4 reporting feeling good about playing with gender-appropriate toys and feeling bad about playing with gender-inappropriate toys. This contradicts Kohlberg.
What is the limitation - methodological issues?
Kohlberg’s theory was developed using interviews with children as young as 2 or 3, who may have a relatively complex understanding of gender but a vocabulary insufficient to express this.
