Gender AO3s Flashcards
Role of chromosomes and hormones
evidence supports role of hormones
Dabbs et al
Goozen et al
In relation to hormones, Dabbs et al found offenders within a prison population that had higher levels of testosterone were more likely to have committed violent or sexually motivated crimes
Goozen et al studied transgender individuals undergoing hormone treatment. Transgender women showed decreased aggression and visio-spatial skills, opposite to transgender males
Research suggests sex hormones do exert some influence on gender related behaviour
Role of chromosomes and hormones
Contradictory evidence for role of hormones
Tricker et al
Double blind study by tricker et al, 43 males given weekly injections of testosterone or placebo. No significant differences in aggression after 10 weeks between 2 groups
Similarly, Slabbekoorn et al demonstrated that sex chromosomes had no consistent effect on gender-related behaviours
These studies also generally involve samples of unusual samples or animals, limiting generalisability
Role of chromosomes and hormones
overemphasis on nature
Maccoby and Jacklin
Maccoby and Jacklin found significantly more differences in behaviour within the sexes than between them
Alternative explanations such as SLT point to importance of social context of learning of our gender identity and role
Influence of social norms explains cultural differences in gender role behaviour, eg in western society males and females are becoming more androgynous in their behaviour
Cognitive explanations of gender development Kohlberg’s theory Evidence support for stages Slaby and Frey Munroe et al
Slaby and Frey presented split screen images of males and females performing same task to children, young children spent roughly the same time watching both sexes. Children in gender consistency stage spent more time watching model who was the same sex as them
Suggests Kohlberg was correct in assuming children who have acquired consistency will actively seek gender-appropriate models
Munroe et al found cross-cultural evidence of Kohlberg’s theory in countries like Kenya – suggesting sequence may be universal
Cognitive explanations of gender development
Kohlberg’s theory
Constancy not supported
Bandura and Bussey
Kohlberg’s theory is undermined by observation that many children begin to display gender appropriate behaviours before gender consistency is achieved
Bandura and Bussey found children as young as 4 felt good when playing with gender appropriate toys, and bad when playing with the opposite gender’s toys
Contradicts what Kohlberg predicts, suggests children begin to absorb gender-appropriate info as soon as they identify themselves as male/female
Cognitive explanations of gender development
Kohlberg’s theory
Methodological error in sampling
Kohlberg’s theory was developed using interviews with young children
Although the questions were aimed at a certain age group, he did not acknowledge children may lack the vocabulary to express their understanding
They may have complex ideas about gender but don’t possess the verbal ability to articulate them, what they express does not truly represent their understanding
Cognitive explanations of gender development
Gender schema theory
Evidence supports theory
Martin and Halverson
Martin and Halverson’s own study found children under 6 were more likely to remember photographs of gender-consistent behaviours than gender-inconsistent ones when tested a week later
Children changed the sex of person carrying out gender-inconsistent activities when asked to recall details
supports idea that memories may be distorted to fit existing gender schemas
Additionally, Martin and Little found children under 4 who showed signs of gender stability or consistency displayed strongly sex-typed behaviours and attitudes
Contrasts Kohlberg’s theory but is consistent with gender schema theory
Cognitive explanations of gender development
Gender schema theory
Compliments Kohlberg’s theory
Strangor and Ruble
Strangor and Ruble suggests the gender schema and gender consistency may describe two very different processes
Gender schema is concerned with how organisation of information affects memory thus explaining why gender-inconsistent information is misremembered/forgotten
Gender consistency on the other hand, is more linked to motivation. Once child has established concept of what it means to be a boy/girl at the gender consistency stage, they are motivated to find out more about this role and engage in gender appropriate activities
Cognitive explanations of gender development
Gender schema theory
Ignores social factors
Importance of schemas and other cognitive factors in determining behaviour may be exaggerated within the theory
As with Kohlberg’s theory, there’s a lack of attention paid to social factors such as parental influences and reinforcements for gender appropriate behaviours
The theory doesn’t explain why gender schemas develop and take on the form they do
