G - Kohlberg's theory

Question 1

Conservation

Answer 1

Refers to the ability to understand that, despite superficial changes in appearance, basic properties of an object remain unchanged. This ability appears around the age of 6 or 7.

Question 2

Gender consistency

Answer 2

The recognition that your gender is a constant, not just across your lifetime but also in different situations. Young children, according to Kohlberg, believe that gender may vary from time to time and depending on, for example, the clothes a person wears.

Question 3

Pre-operational

Answer 3

A stage in Piaget’s theory of cognitive development where a child’s logic lacks internal consistency, for example, a child might believe that trees make wind because the branches wave about. There is some logic to this, but it doesn’t explain how you still get wind when there are no trees.

Question 4

When did Kohlberg come up with his theory of gender development?

Answer 4

1966

Question 5

What type of explanation is Kohlberg’s theory?

Answer 5

Cognitive explanation.

Question 6

What does Kohlberg’s theory emphasise?

Answer 6

The role of thinking (cognition) in the process of development.

Question 7

What did Kohlberg also use his theory to explain?

Answer 7

Gender/Moral development.

Question 8

What did Kohlberg say the stages of moral development were?

Answer 8

Stage 1: Preconventional
- Obedience and punishment.
- Individualism and exchange.
Stage 2: Conventional
- Interpersonal relationships.
- Authority and social order.
Stage 3: Post-conventional
- Social contact.
- Universal principles.

Question 9

What behaviours are associated with the preconventional stage of moral development?

Answer 9

The ‘right’. Based on avoiding punishment, focused on consequences rather than intention.

Question 10

What behaviours are associated with the conventional stage of moral development?

Answer 10

Individuals filling social roles. Social obedience for a functional society.

Question 11

What behaviours are associated with the postconventional stage of moral development?

Answer 11

Begin to learn other have different values. Internal moral principles.

Question 12

What are Piaget’s periods of development?

Answer 12

Birth - 2 years = sensorimotor.
2 - 6 years = pre-operational.
7 - 11 years = concrete operational.
12 years - adulthood = formal operational.

Question 13

What happens in Piaget’s sensorimotor period of development?

Answer 13

Uses senses and motor skills, items known by use.

Object performance learned (there when not visible).

Question 14

What happens in Piaget’s pre-operational period of development?

Answer 14

Symbolic thinking, language used; egocentric thinking.

Imagination/experience grow, child de-centers (understands others are conscious).

Question 15

What happens in Piaget’s concrete operational period of development?

Answer 15

Logic applied, has objective/rational interpretations.

Conservation (different situations don’t change gender), numbers, ideas, classificiations.

Question 16

What happens in Piaget’s formal operational period of development?

Answer 16

Thinks abstractly, hypothetical ideas (broader issues).

Ethics, politics, social/moral issues explored.

Question 17

At what age is someone in Piaget’s sensorimotor period of development?

Answer 17

Birth - 2 years.

Question 18

At what age is someone in Piaget’s pre-operational period of development?

Answer 18

2 - 6 years.

Question 19

At what age is someone in Piaget’s concrete operational period of development?

Answer 19

7 - 11 years.

Question 20

At what age is someone in Piaget’s formal operational period of development?

Answer 20

12 years - adulthood.

Question 21

What are the stages of Kohlberg’ (1966) gender schema theory?

Answer 21

Stage 1 = Gender labelling.
Stage 2 = Gender stability.
Stage 3 = Gender constancy.

Question 22

At what age does gender labelling occur?

Answer 22

2-3 years old.

Question 23

What are the characteristics of the gender labelling stage of GST?

Answer 23

Children label themselves and others as a boy or girl, or a man or women.

Based on appearances only.

Question 24

Give the explanation of why gender labelling occurs at this time in GST

Answer 24

Piaget - pre-operational thinking.

• Lacks internal logic (abstract thinking).
• Inconsistent (based on external factors that can change).

Question 25

What is the effect of gender labelling on gender development in GST?

Answer 25

By the end of this stage, children have schemata for simple masculine and feminine characteristics (stereotypes).

Question 26

At what age does gender stability occur?

Answer 26

4-7 years old.

Question 27

What are the characteristics of the gender stability stage of GST?

Answer 27

Children realise gender is stable over time. No realisation that gender is stable across situations.

Question 28

Give the explanation of why gender stability occurs at this time in GST

Answer 28

Before around age 7, Piaget noticed children have no concept of conservation - the idea that individuals retain the same internal properties no matter what external behaviour/appearance they show.

Question 29

What is the effect of gender stability on gender development in GST?

Answer 29

At the end of this stage, children start to realise that gender and appearance are separate, so anyone can perform any behaviour even when it isn’t stereotypical.

Question 30

Give a study that showed gender stability

Answer 30

McConaghy (1979) found that when young children were shown a line drawing of a doll where the male genitals were visible through the doll’s dress, children under the age of 5 judged the doll to be female because of its external appearance despite the contrary evidence that it was a boy.

Question 31

At what age does gender constancy occur?

Answer 31

6/7+ into adulthood.

Question 32

What are the characteristics of the gender constancy stage of GST?

Answer 32

Start to develop gender constancy - the belief that gender is entirely independent of time, place or appearance. They begin to show preferences for gender-appropriate behaviour.

Question 33

Give the explanation of why gender constancy occurs at this time in GST

Answer 33

Gender-appropriate behaviour is the result of understanding gender can’t change (if it can change, there’s no harm in performing the action of either gender as it might one day be yours).

Question 34

What is the effect of gender constancy on gender development in GST?

Answer 34

Gender is fixed in the child’s mind. Children will reject gender-appropriate behaviour after this stage.

Question 35

Draw the diagram in Kohlberg’s theory

Answer 35

--------------------------------
↓                                    ↑
Assimilation                  ↑
↓                                    ↑
Equilibration                 ↑
↓                                    ↑
New situation               ↑
↓                                    ↑
Disequilibrium              ↑
↓                                    ↑
Accommodation           ↑
↓                                     ↑
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