Cognitive explanations of gender development: Kohlberg's theory Flashcards
How many stages are in Kohlberg’s gender development theory?
3
What is the first stage of Kohlberg’s gender development theory?
Gender labelling
What is the second stage of Kohlberg’s gender development theory?
Gender stability
What is the third stage of Kohlberg’s gender development theory?
Gender constancy
What age does gender labelling occur?
2-3 years
What age does gender stability occur?
4 years
What age does gender constancy occur?
6 years
What do children label themselves as in the gender labelling stage?
Boy or girl
What is gender based on in the gender labelling stage?
Outward appearance only
What can be said about the thinking in the gender labelling stage?
It is preoperational
Are gender labels fixed in the gender labelling stage?
No
What do children recognise in the gender stability stage?
That their gender is constant
What do children believe about growing up in the gender stability stage?
That boys grow up to become men and that girls grow up to be women
What children not yet realise in gender stability?
That gender is consistent
What do children come to realise in the gender constancy stage?
That gender is fixed across all situations and contexts
What did Kohlberg suggest that children only begin to realise at the gender constancy stage?
Gender-appropriate behaviours
What are the 4 AO3 points of Kohlberg’s theory?
1) Research support from Slaby and Frey
2) Overly reductionist
3) Use of stages is problematic
4) Gender differences
What did Slaby and Frey ask children?
Whether they would be mummies or daddies when they grow up
What did Slaby and Frey find about gender stability?
That children did not recognise gender until 3-4 years
What did Thompson ask young children?
Whether they were a boy or girl
What percentage of 2 year olds correctly identified their sex in Thompson’s study?
73%
What percentage of 3 year olds correctly identified their sex in Thompson’s study?
90%
Why are stage theories socially sensitive?
Because parents may be caused psychological harm is they believe that their child isn’t developing typically
What did Slaby and Frey find about gender constancy?
That it can occur as young as 5 years old
Why does Kohlberg’s theory lack temporal validity?
As due to media exposure, children are aware of gender at a younger age
What gender differences were found regarding Kohlberg’s theory?
Boys enter gender constancy before girls
What two things can explain gender differences found in Kohlberg’s theory?
SLT and punishment
How can SLT explain gender differences found in Kohlberg’s theory?
Male role models more powerful than female role models
