Gender - Kohlberg's Theory

Question 1

Supporting evidence

+ COUNTERPOINT

Answer 1

Damon et al
George story. A boy plays with dolls. Asked to comment. 4 yr olds said OK 6 year olds thought it was wrong. Gender stereotyping emerges around the age of 6.

Bussey and Bandura

Children felt good about gender appropriate toys and bad about the opposite at 4. Contradicts what Kohlberg would predict. Support for gender schema.

Question 2

Issues with methodology

Answer 2

Bem

Unsatisfactory ways of measuring gender. Children are asked if gender changes with clothing. This isn’t correct identification of gender. Genitalia which children do not understand is better indication. 40% of children 3-5 can show constancy if shown a naked image of child to be.

Question 3

There may be different degrees of constancy.

Answer 3

Martin

When and how understanding their own gender effects gender specific behaviour is unclear. There may be different degrees of gender constancy. This means that acquisition of gender constancy can start earlier than Kohlberg assumed and may be a gradual process.