cognitive explanations of gender development: gender schema theory

Question 1

gender schema

Answer 1

an organised set of beliefs about gender which guides gender-appropriate behaviour

Question 2

gender identity

Answer 2

only gender identity is needed for the development of gender schema

Question 3

schema direct behaviour and self-understanding

Answer 3

schemas are likely to be formed around stereotypes
children misremember or disregard info that does not fit with their schema

Question 4

ingroups and outgroups

Answer 4

children pay more attention to ingroup up to the age of 8, then outgroup schema is of interest too

Question 5

evaluation: research support from Martin and Halverson

Answer 5

suggests that once a child establishes gender identity they search their environment for info which encourages gender development
contrasts with Kohlberg’s theory and casts doubt over Kohlberg’s ideas of gender development

Question 6

evaluation: theory accounts for rigid gender beliefs

Answer 6

information that conflicts with existing schema would be discounted
similarly, children display a strong ingroup bias in terms of how they process info
thus, Martin and Halverson’s theory can explain many aspects of young children’s thinking about gender

Question 7

evaluation: complements Kohlberg’s theory

Answer 7

Stangor and Ruble have suggested that gender schema and gender constancy describe 2 different processes
schema is concerned with organisation of information whereas constancy is linked with motivation