Gender development

Question 1

What are the three stages in gender development

Answer 1

Gender identity (2-3)
Gender stability (4-5)
Gender constancy (6-7)

Question 2

What happens in the gender identity stage

Answer 2

Children begin to label themselves and others as a boy or girl based on external appearance. They don’t understand gender is fixed over time and situation

Question 3

What happens in the gender stability stage

Answer 3

Children recognise that gender remains constant over time, but it is still based on appearance

Question 4

What happens in the gender constancy stage

Answer 4

Children realise gender is invariant despite changes in appearance, dress or activity. They seek same sex playmates and engage in gender stereotyped behaviour

Question 5

What is the evolutionary account for gender development

Answer 5

Certain traits facilitate survival and transmission of genes therefore these traits are favoured over generations.

Question 6

Evidence against evolutionary account for gender development x3

Answer 6

1. ) it can’t account for similarities or differences in general behaviour, only those involved in mating and child rearing
2. ) it doesn’t specify any mechanisms to explain developmental changes
3. ) Its very descriptive and lacks scientific rigour

Question 7

What is the hormone account for gender development

Answer 7

They are focused on the role of androgens (hormones that cause physical development eg testosterone). Fluctuations in androgens influence behaviour

Question 8

Evidence against the hormone account for gender development x2

Answer 8

1. ) The causal link between hormones and behaviour hasn’t been established
2. ) Transgender children look different from children of their own sex so its hard to disentangle hormonal from social influences

Question 9

What is the cognitive theory for gender development

Answer 9

Children develop concepts of gender from those around them through observation and practice. Once they develop gender constancy they positively value their gender identity, this happens at a similar age as passing Piagetian conservation tasks.. It makes sense to learn about gender stereotyped behaviour when you realise you gender is constant,

Question 10

What is the gender schema theory for gender development

Answer 10

Once children form gender schemas they can begin to include stereotypical behaviour. Children are expected to behave according to their own gender schema . Gender stereotypes develop own preschool and are more expressed in boys than girls

Question 11

Whats is the social cognitive theory for gender development

Answer 11

This proposes that personal, environmental and behavioural factors influence gender development. Gendered behaviour develops by tuition, inactive behaviour and observational learning

Question 12

What is tuition with example

Answer 12

When children are directly taught gendered behaviours (boys mow the lawn, girls do the cooking)

Question 13

What is enactive behaviour

Answer 13

When children learn to guide their own behaviour by considering reactions from others. Develops through conditioning - gender appropriate behaviour is praised

Question 14

Whats observational learning

Answer 14

Seeing other behave and watching the consequences of their behaviour on others reactions.

Question 15

Why is gender-typing more rigid for boys than girls

Answer 15

Fathers often play a role in instilling stereotypical behaviour in their sons. Could be evolutionary as feminine behaviour was seen as lower in status

Question 16

How does marketing influences effect gender behaviour

Answer 16

Toys are often gendered which encourages children to buy gender appropriate toys

Question 17

How does gender-typing effect children mathematical skills

Answer 17

Although teachers consider boys and girls to be equally good at maths, they also consider men to be better than women. The only differences at school emerge in late adolescence and only in the high performing students. Girls show maths anxiety and less confidence

Question 18

How does gender-typing effect spatial skills

Answer 18

Boys receive more praise for outdoor play and therefore are better at mental rotation, spacial perception and spacial visualisation. The difference is more prominent in mental rotation.

Question 19

How does gender-typing effect aggression

Answer 19

Male are more directly aggressive and females indirectly aggressive. This could be due to a females lower strength. Female groups tend to be smaller and closer so indirect aggression hurts more as it targets relationships closely. Female are also discouraged from being physically aggressive so use indirect methods instead

Question 20

What is the male variability hypothesis

Answer 20

Males are more likely to be at the ends of the intelligence spectrum whereas females centre around the median. This was explained by saying that education was more useful to men than women

Question 21

Flaws of the male variability hypothesis

Answer 21

1. ) its not been empirically established that men were more anatomically variable than women
2. ) Even if it were established that men were more variable in mental traits this wouldn’t mean men were innately more variable
3. ) Any possible differences in variability between men and women must consider the fact that women lacked the opportunity to achieve eminence because of their prescribed societal and cultural roles

Question 22

Whats the gender similarity hypothesis

Answer 22

Hyde reviewed studies that had each analysed evidence for gender difference in hundred of studies across 128 domains including strength, moral reasoning, cheating, problem solving, self-esteem and leadership. 30% reported close to 0 effect, 48% small effects and 22% medium effects. Hyde concluded men and women were more alike than different