Gender - gender schema theory

Question 1

schema

Answer 1

mental blueprint/cognitive framework, used to help quickly understand world around us. can be changed/expanded upon

Question 2

when do children begin collecting gender information according to Martin and Halverson

Answer 2

2-3 years, they search the environment for this information

Question 3

when do children have a fixed idea of gender-appropriate behaviour according to Martin and Halverson

Answer 3

6 years old

Question 4

how are schemas different in children?

Answer 4

they are very rigid and information that doesn’t align with their schema is often disregarded

Question 5

what is an in-group

Answer 5

when girls identify with girls/boys identify with boys. it’s a template of how to behave, and we positively evaluate our in-groups.

Question 6

when do gender schemas occur in relation to Kohlberg’s theory

Answer 6

before gender constancy

Question 7

lenses of gender (Bem)

Answer 7

gender schemas are lenses we see the world through. important to make lenses visible so we can see them rather than see through them, leading to a better understanding of how they distort our perceptions of gender

Question 8

how do parents help develop gender schemas

Answer 8

toys, clothes, treatment. and reinforced w/ punishment and rewards

Question 9

strengths of gender schema theory

Answer 9

+ Martin and Halverson -> children have difficulty remembering photos that don’t align with gender schemas. worse recall of gender inconsistent (male nurse) than consistent (female nurse)
+ Martin and Little found that from age of 3, children had preference for gender-labelled toys. earlier than gender constancy stage suggests
+ focus on cognition is sensible approach as we are aware of our own thoughts of how our behaviour matches gender norms

Question 10

limitations of gender schema theory

Answer 10

• reductionist, does not fully explain as does not look at social factors enough
• use of very young children who can’t communicate well relies on inferences = researcher bias?
• SLT may better explain stronger sex typing in boys than girls as result of greater social pressure
• Alexander and Hines found male and female monkeys responded the same way as humans to gendered toys. They haven’t been socialised so suggests evolutionary aspect of behaviour rather than cognitive