cognitive explanations of gender development Flashcards
what is kohlbergs stages in development
based on idea childs understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated with age
comes as result of biological maturation- as brain matures so does thinking
understanding of gender runs parallel to intellectual development as child matures biologically
what is gender identity (kohlberg)
stage 1
2 years old- children correctly identify themselvces as boy or girl
3 years old- children identify others as boys or men girls or women
understanding of gender trends dont stretch beyond simple labelling
dont view gender as fixed
what is gender stability (kohlberg)
stage 2
4 years old- children acquire gender stability
realisation they ill always stay same gender
children of this age cant apply logic to other people in other situations
confused by external changes in appearance- describe a man who has long hair as a women and believe people change gender if engage in activities more associated with different gender
what is gender constancy (kohlberg)
stage 3
6 years old- gender remains constant across time and situations
understanding applied to other peoples gender as well as their own
o longer fooled by changes in outward appearance
begin to seek out gender appropriate role models to identify with and imitate
connects closely with ideas in social learning theory
once child fully developed and internalised concept of gender embark upon active search for evidence which confirms that concept
tendency towards gender stereotyping begins to emerge at this age
what is research support (kohlberg evaluation)
evidence suggests gender stereotyping does emerge around 6 as predicted
damon- children story about george- boy who liked to play with dolls, children asked to comment on story, four year olds said it was fine for george to play with dolls if he wanted to, six year olds thought wrong for george to play with dolls
gone beyond understanding what boys and girls do to developing rules about what they ought to do
suggest children who have achieved constancy have formed rigid stereotypes regarding gender appropriate behaviour
other research challenges idea interest in gender appropriate behaviour only develops around 6
bussey and bandura- children as young as 4 reported feeling good about playing with gender appropriate toys and bad about opposite
contradicts kohlbergs theory but supports gender schema theory- children begin to absorb gender appropriate info as soon as they identify themselves as either boy or girl
what is methodological problem (kohlberg evaluation)
supporting research relies on unsatisfactory methods to assess gender constancy
bem-criticised methodology used in studies of link between gender and cogntive development
key test of gender constancy- whether child understands gender stays same despite changes in appearance and context
bem- little wonder younger children confused by this, this is how we demarcate one gender from another
identify men and women through things like clothes and hairstyle- best way to identify males and females through physical differences that younger children dont undertsand
bem- demobstrated 40% children aged 3-5yrs were able to demonstrate constancy if shown naked photo of child to be identified first
suggests typical way of testing gender constancy may misrepresent what younger children actually know
what are degrees of constancy (kohlberg evaluation)
other researchers suggested there may be different degrees of gender constancy
martin- praise kohlberg theory for recognising childrens understanding of their own and other peoples gender guides their thoughts and behaviours
they point out when and how this understaning affects childrens gender related behaviour remains unclear
martin- may be different degrees gender constancy, initial degree may be orient children to importance of gender in choosing friends or seeking info, second degree may heighten childrens responsiveness to gender norms especially in conflict
suggests acquisition of constancy may be more gradual process and may begin earlier than kohlberg thought
what is gender schema theory
martin and halverson account id cognitive developmental theory argues childrens understanding of gender changes with age
children develop their understanding of gender by actively structuring their own learning rather than passively observing and imitating role models
what is gender schema after gender identity
schema concept that was introduced as part of cognitive approach
schema mental constructs that develop via experience and are used by cognitive system to organise knowledge around particular topics
gender schema generalised representation of everything we know in relation to gender and stereotypically gender appropriate behaviour
once child established gender identity around 2-3 years they will search the environment for info that encourages developmenmt of gender schema
this process only begins after they have progressed through all three stages around age 7 with gender constancy
what is gender schema determine behaviour
gender schema expand to include wide range of behaviours and personality traits
young children- schema lilely to be formed around stereotypes and these provide frameworks that directs experience as well as childrens understanding of itself
6 years- children fixed and stereotypical idea about what is appropriate for their gender
children likely to misremember or disregard info that does not fit with their existing schema
what is ingroup information better remembered
children tend to have better understanding of schema that are appropriate to their own gender
consistent with idea that children pay more attention to info relevant to gender identity rather than other gender
children little older- they develop elaborate scheme for both genders as opposed to just their own
ingroup identity serves to bolster childs level of self esteem
what is research support (evaluation)
key princples supported by evidence
martin and halversons own study found children under age 6 were more likely to remember photos stereotypically gender appropriate behaviour than phots of gender inappropriate
children tended to change gender of person carrying out gender inappropriate activity in photos when asked to recall them so gender behaviour was now appropriate
provides support for gender shcema theory which predicts that children under 6yrs would do this
what is earlier gender identity (evaluation)
gender identity develops earlier than suggested
longitudinal study 82 children looked at onset of gender identity, data obtained from twice weekly reports from mothers on their childrens lang from 9-21months alongside videotaped analysis of children at play
key measure of gender identity was taken to be how and when children labelled themselves as boy or girl at 19 months- as soon as children communicate suggest children have a gender identity before this but dont communicate it
suggests they may have underestimated childrens ability to use gender labels about themselves
may not be appropriate to argue about specific ages for martin and halversons theory
uggest key point is shifts in a childs thinking and that ages are averages rather than absolutes
possible that many children may move through stages quicker or slower than others
sequence of development that is more important
suggests zosuls finding is not fundamental criticism of the theory
what is cultural differences (evaluation)
gender schema theory can account for cultural differences in stereotypically gender appropriate behaviour
cherry-gender shcema not only influence how people proess info but also what counts as culturally appropriate gender behaviour
traditional cultures that believe women should take nurturing role and that men pursue career will raise children who form schema which are consistent with this view
in societies where perceptions of gender have less rigid boundaries children more llikely to require more fluid gender schema
martin and halversons theory can explain how gender schema are transmitted between members of a society and how cultural differences in gender stereotypes come about
contrasts with some other explanations of gender development which suggest gender identity more driven by unconscious biological urges
