[G] Gender constancy theory Flashcards
Who developed gender constancy theory?
Kohlberg (1966).
What does Kohlberg emphasise the role of in gender development?
Cognitions.
How many stages does gender constancy theory have?
Three.
What happens in the first stage?
Gender labelling, between 1.5 to 3 years old, the child labels others as male or female based on their appearance, and labels themselves as male or female towards the end of this stage.
What happens in the second stage?
Gender stability, between 4 and 5 years old, the child recognises that gender is consistent through life but do not recognise that a boy can’t become a girl by doing a female activity.
What happens in the third stage?
Gender consistency, between 6 and 7 years old, the child now realises that gender does not change in different situations and gender appropriate behaviour.
What did Thompson find?
Two year olds were 76% correct in identifying their gender, whereas three year olds were 94% correct.
What did Slaby and Frey find?
Asked children a range of questions and found that children did not appear to be gender stable until the age of three or four years old as Kohlberg predicted. They also found that as children became more gender constant they preferred and paid more attention to gender appropriate role models.
What did Slaby and Frey find to refute gender constancy theory?
Gender consistency appeared at a younger age than Kohlberg suggested.
Evaluate gender constancy theory.
- Does not consider biological influences on gender.
- Demand characteristics could affect the children’s research.
- Refuting research from Slaby and Frey.
- Lots of supporting evidence.
