Gender - Cognitive Explanations Of Gender Development (Kohlberg)

Question 1

What is Kohlberg’s cognitive-developmental theory based on?

Answer 1

a child’s understanding of gender (including appropriate behaviour, gender-roles & attitudes) become more sophisticated with age

understanding of gender runs parallel to intellectual development as child matures biologically

Question 2

What are the 3 stages of gender development

Answer 2

gender identity
gender stability
gender constancy

Question 3

What is the gender identity stage?

Answer 3

child can correctly identify their own gender & identify others correctly but not aware sex is permanent

Question 4

how old is a child in the gender identity stage?

Answer 4

2-3

Question 5

What is the gender stability stage?

Answer 5

child realises they will always be the same gender & that it remains consistent over time but cannot apply it to others -> often confused by outward appearances

Question 6

how old is a child in the gender stability?

Answer 6

4

Question 7

what is the gender constancy stage?

Answer 7

child recognises gender remains consistent across time & situations and no longer fooled by changes in outward appearance

Question 8

who did Kohlberg base his theory on?

Answer 8

piaget

Question 9

What was piaget’s theory of egocentrism & conservation?

Answer 9

all children egocentric (cannot see others pov) until 6/7

until 6/7 children dont aquire object permanence

Question 10

what does kohlberg say about the gender constancy stage and imitation of role models?

Answer 10

once the child have fully developed & internalised concept of gender, they embark upon active search for evidence to confirm concept

Question 11

What evidence from Slaby & Frey supports the sequence of stages for gender development?

Answer 11

children presented split screen images of men/women doing same tasks

younger children spent same amount of time looking at both sexes but those in gender constancy stage spent longer looking at model who was the same sex -> kohlberg was correct in assumption

Question 12

What evidence from munroe et al suggests kohlberg’s theory is universal?

Answer 12

found cross cultural evidence of theory in kenya, samoa & nepal (universal)

Question 13

What evidence from bussey and bandura doesnt support the constancy stage?

Answer 13

children as young as 4 reported feeling good about playing with gender appropriate toys and bad about opposite -> supports gender schema theory

Question 14

what were some methodological issues

Answer 14

kohlberg interviewed children as young as 2/3 -> dont have the vocab required to express their understanding of gender