Cognitive explanations of gender development: gender schema theory Flashcards
What 2 ways does gender schema theory differ from Kohlberg’s theory?
Process of acquiring gender-relent info happens before gender constancy is achieved.
Claim that basic gender identity is enough for a child to identify themself as a boy/girl, meaning they take interest in behaviours of that social group (Kohlberg said this happens after constancy is achieved).
What is a schema?
A cognitive framework that helps organise and interpret information in the brain. Helps an individual makes sense of new information.
How do children develop gender schemas?
Interactions with other children and adults, consuming media. Therefore very related to cultural norms.
What is an in-group?
The group that one identifies with and belongs with (religion, school, gender).
What is an out-group?
Anything that is outside one’s in-group.
Why do individuals associate with in-groups?
Increases self-esteem - identifying with a successful group that is likes makes the individual feel they have these qualities.
How do in-groups and out-groups influence gender?
Positively evaluate in-group (own gender). Leads to identifying with in-group by displaying behaviours associated with that gender group. Also leads child to actively seek info about what the in-group does - leading to the acquisition of in-group schemas.
How do in-group schemas influence gender beliefs?
Male them more resilient. Info that does not fit the schema is rejected. E.g. boy nurse is ignored in order to preserve schema.
How do in-group schemas influence peer-relationships?
Children believe members of out-group share same interests, are ‘not like me’ and are therefore not fun to play with. Opposite for in-group. Naturally leads them to form bonds with in-group. Also, social consequences of not doing so, strengthening schema.
(AO3) What influence do gender schemas have on information processing?
May distort information that isn’t consistent with gender schema. Study showed children gender inconsistent picture (boy with doll, girl with gun). Found info was distorted - recalled as girl with doll, boy with gun. Maintains schema, supports gender schema theory and shows extent of schema influence.
(AO3) What behaviour does gender schema theory explain in young children?
Their highly sexist nature. Despite parents providing gender inconsistent toys. Children actively seek gender-appropriate schemas, ignoring counter-stereotypes. However, children with working-mothers are more open to gender-inconsistent ideas, suggesting schemas are not entirely fixed.
(AO3) What does gender schema theory suggest about child-rearing practices?
Exposing children to counter-stereotypes may not be the best strategy to reduce stereotypes in children. This is because such info is ignored or distorted to maintain schema. So other methods such as the consequences of stereotypes or proof that they are exaggerated, should be introduced in childcare to reduce the impacts of negative stereotypes in society.
(AO3) Evaluate gender schema theory in terms of issues, debates and approaches.
Cognitive approach. Difficult to measure and subjective to a degree. Relies on inference. Reduces scientific validity. Also does not consider the influence of genes and hormones on determining gendered behaviour, so is reductionist.
