Gender: SLT explanation

Question 1

what kind of conditioning is involved in gender development

Answer 1

operant
classical

Question 2

how do we learn gender appropriate behaviour

Answer 2

through observing and imitating same sex role models
we identify with them which leads to internalisation and adoption of gender appropriate behaviour

Question 3

how are mediational processes involved

Answer 3

attention: we noticed the behaviour
retention: we remember the behaviour if it is gender appropriate
motor reproduction: we consider our ability to perform the behaviour
motivation: the will to perform the behaviour

our motivation is determined by whether or not the behaviour is punished or rewarded

Question 4

how is vicarious reinforcement involved

Answer 4

we are more likely to imitate gender appropriate behaviour if we have seen it be rewarded
we are less likely to imitate gender inappropriate behaviour if we have seen it be punished

Question 5

AO3: research to support

Answer 5

smith and lloyd studied 4-6 month old babies who were dressed in boys clothes half the time and girls clothes the other half > when adults interacted with them they gave the “boys” a hammer shaped rattle and encouraged them to be adventurous and gave the “girls” a cuddly doll, called them pretty and reinforced their passive behaviour

shows gender is reinforced from a young age

counter: adults may have only behaved like this due to demand characteristics and may have wanted to please the researcher

Question 6

AO3: cultural changes

Answer 6

best way to explain changing gender norms and roles
eg: in the 1950s there was clear distinction between masculine and feminine behaviour but it’s no longer so clear
this is explained by a shift in social expectations and cultural norms which has meant new forms of acceptable gender behaviour have been accepted
as there has been no biological change this can only be explained by SLT

Question 7

AO3: no developmental sequence

Answer 7

it doesn’t provide an adequate explanation of how learning processes change with age
SLT suggested modelling of gender appropriate behaviour can occur at any age but this would suggest 2 year olds and 9 year olds learn the same way
contradicts Kohlberg who says children aren’t actively involved in their gender development until gender constancy
SLT suggested age and maturation is not a factor to be considered in gender development