Cogntive Explanation: Gender Schema

Question 1

Interactionist: Nature

Answer 1

Born with the ability to create schemas.

Question 2

Interactionist: nurture

Answer 2

These schemas develop with experience.

Question 3

Gender schema theory

Answer 3

children’s understanding of gender increases with age. Shares kohlberg’s view that children develop their understanding of gender by ACTIVELY structuring their own learning.

Question 4

Our understanding of gender runs parallel to…

Answer 4

Intellectual development (develops with age)

Question 5

Typical girl schemas

Answer 5

Dolls, pink, caring, flowers

Question 6

Typical boy schemas

Answer 6

Blue, messy, trucks, short hair

Question 7

Age 2-3 (and an Ao3 to do with kohlberg’s)

Answer 7

Once a child has reached gender indentity they will be able to gradually search the environment for further information to develop their schema.

Ao3: this contradicts kohlberg as he stated that this process happened AFTER they have progressed through all 3 stages (constancy at 7)

Question 8

By 6 years old

Answer 8

Children have fixed and stereotyped views/ attitudes about gender and anything that doesn’t fit their schema, they disregard. (E.g girl playing with dinosaurs)

Question 9

By 8 years old

Answer 9

we have a good understanding of both genders (we have developed elaborate schema). This leads to negative evaluations of your outgroup (teasing).

Question 10

Ingroup

Answer 10

same-sex = reinforce our knowledge and boosts self esteem.

Question 11

Outgroup

Answer 11

opposite sex = don’t pay as much attention to.

Question 12

AO3 POSITIVES

Answer 12

+ a study found that children under 6 years of age remembered more photographs of gender consistent (male builder) behaviour than of gender inconsistent behaviour (female builder) after one week. They would change the behaviour of the person carrying out the inconsistent task (to fit their norm).

+ In-group schemas explain why children discount information that conflicts with existing schemas in favour of information that confirms ingroup schema. They also show a bias to pay more attention to information that is relevant to their own experience. This demonstrates that ingroups and outgroups are a big part in developing gender understanding of both genders, also that is needed for boosting self-esteem (we are doing our gender right!

Question 13

AO3 WEAKNESSES

Answer 13

• The theory overlooks social factors, therefore it does not explain WHY gender schemas develop and take the form they do. The theory therefore is weak in being able to explain gender development. It also doesn’t explain transgender and why some children have other gender traits and choose toys of ‘the opposite gedner’
• Cognitive developmental theory states that gender understanding begins around 3 years old. However before then, they can correctly label their own sex, children will choose same-sex playmates, as if they are already subconsciously aware of the difference. This could be explained by nature.