[G] Gender schema theory Flashcards
Who developed gender schema theory?
Martin and Halverson (1981).
What do Martin and Halverson suggest?
Gender relevant information is acquired before constancy, and basic labelling is all that is required before a child takes an interest in gender appropriate behaviour.
For how long do schemas and stereotypes affect children?
Until well after childhood.
What is a schema?
A mental representation of gender in the world, which is used to make sense of future situations.
What is an ingroup?
A group which children positively identify with and adopt the behaviour of.
What do Martin and Halverson claim is the effect of schemas?
We ignore information that does not fit in with our schemas and remember information that does.
What did Martin and Little find?
Children under four showed no signs of gender stability but did display gender stereotypes as to what boys anf girls can do.
What did Martin and Halverson find?
When children were asked to recall pictures of people, they recalled more of the gender consistent ones, such as recalling a male firefighter instead of a male nurse.
What did Bradbard et al find?
Children pay greater attention to ingroup schema, when told certain items were male or female the children remembered the ingroup items and paid more attention to them.
What did Hoffman (1998) find?
Children who have working mothers have less stereotypical views of what men and women can do suggesting gender schemas are not fixed.
Evaluate gender schema theory.
- Research supports theory.
- Not gender biased, both males and females studied.
- Does not take into account biological factors.
- Demand characteristics affect the responses of children.
