Cognitive explanations of gender development Flashcards
What is the cognitive explanation of gender development?
It suggests that gender development occurs through cognitive processes where children actively construct an understanding of gender over time.
What is Kohlberg’s theory of gender development?
Kohlberg proposed that children go through three stages: gender identity, gender stability and gender constancy as their cognitive abilities mature.
What is the first stage of Kohlberg’s theory?
Gender identity occurs around age 2-3 where children recognize themselves as male or female but do not understand that gender is permanent.
What is the second stage of Kohlberg’s theory?
Gender stability occurs around age 4 where children understand that their own gender is stable over time but may still believe gender can change based on appearance or activity.
What is the third stage of Kohlberg’s theory?
Gender constancy occurs around age 6-7 where children understand that gender is constant across time and situations regardless of changes in clothing or behavior.
How does Kohlberg’s theory explain gender-typed behavior?
Once children reach gender constancy they actively seek out and imitate same-sex role models to reinforce their gender identity.
What is gender schema theory?
Proposed by Martin and Halverson 1981 it suggests that children develop gender-related schemas at a young age to guide their understanding of gender-appropriate behavior.
At what age do children start forming gender schemas?
According to gender schema theory children as young as 2-3 years old begin developing gender schemas based on their environment.
How does gender schema theory differ from Kohlberg’s theory?
Gender schema theory suggests children develop gender-related behaviors before achieving gender constancy whereas Kohlberg’s theory states gender constancy must come first.
What is a gender schema?
A mental framework containing knowledge and expectations about gender influencing how children interpret and remember gender-related information.
How do gender schemas influence behavior?
Children tend to pay more attention to and remember information that fits their gender schema while ignoring or forgetting information that contradicts it.
What is the role of the environment in gender schema theory?
“Children actively seek gender-related information from parents peers media and culture to build their gender schemas.”Question
What is a strength of Kohlberg’s cognitive developmental theory?
It provides a developmental approach suggesting that children’s understanding of gender evolves over time progressing through identity stability and constancy.
What research supports Kohlberg’s stages of gender development?
Slaby and Frey 1975 found that children who reached gender constancy were more likely to pay attention to same-sex models.
Why is Kohlberg’s theory considered valid?
It aligns with developmental changes observed in children showing a structured progression in gender understanding.
What is a limitation of Kohlberg’s theory?
It focuses too much on cognitive development and neglects social and environmental influences on gender development.
How does gender schema theory challenge Kohlberg’s theory?
Gender schema theory suggests that children actively seek gender-related information from their environment highlighting the importance of social influences.
What is a key difference between gender schema theory and Kohlberg’s theory?
Gender schema theory argues that children learn gender-appropriate behaviors before achieving gender constancy unlike Kohlberg’s staged approach.
What research supports gender schema theory?
Martin and Halverson 1983 found that children as young as 2 years old start to form gender schemas and prefer same-sex playmates.
Why is gender schema theory considered more flexible than Kohlberg’s theory?
It explains gender development occurring earlier and suggests that children do not need gender constancy to show gender-typed behaviors.
What is a limitation of both Kohlberg’s and gender schema theory?
They assume all children develop gender concepts in the same way and at the same pace which may not be accurate.
What research challenges Kohlberg’s strict stage theory?
Martin and Little 1990 found that gender-related behaviors appear in young children before they understand gender constancy or stability.
Why might Kohlberg’s theory be considered too rigid?
It assumes a universal pattern of gender development that may not account for individual differences or cultural influences.
What is an advantage of gender schema theory over Kohlberg’s theory?
It provides a more accurate explanation of early gender development as children start forming gender schemas from an earlier age.
