Gender - Social Influences Flashcards
Parental influences
Smith and Lloyd
Fagot et al
Parents reinforce gender appropriate behaviour but not inappropriate behaviour
Mothers playing with infant - selected gender appropriate toys and responded more actively when a boy showed increased motor ability
Parents who show the clearest patterns of differential reinforcement have children who are quickest to develop strong gender preferences
A01: Bandura
Gender role development is the result of learning from social agents and reinforced gender role behaviours
Peer influences
Perry and Bussey
Lamb et al
Peers offer a model of gender appropriate behaviour.
Film clip shown to children aged 8-9. Children selecting fruit. Children copied what they saw
Peers also provide feedback when a friend does something deemed as wrong for their gender (direct tuition)
Media influences
Roles
Exposure
Outcomes
Males are independent, directive, strong and controlling.
Women are dependent, unambitious, emotional and at the mercy of others. (Bussey and Bandura)
Those with higher exposure to this display more stereotypical gender role conceptions (McGhee and Frueh)
The media also hints at outcomes, creating self efficacy or self doubt.
Bandura’s Bobo Doll studies
Effect of adult model on child’s aggressive behaviour (applicable to gender)
Children watched adult abuse doll
They were refrained from playing
Taken to a room
They also attacked doll verbally and physically
Perry and Bussey - modelling effects
Children only modelled same sex behaviour if it did not counter stereotypes. So the effects of modelling are limited by existing stereotypes.
Direct tuition
Martin et al - preschool boys played with “boys toys” (direct tuition) even if they saw girls playing with them
They did not play with “girls toys” even if they saw boys playing with them.
Parental influence
Langlois and Downs
Fathers more openly disapproving of their sons inappropriate behaviour
Mothers did not punish
Similar pattern found with peer reinforcement (girls more tolerant)
FEMALE BEHAVIOUR HAS A LOWER VALUE AND SO MALE BEHAVIOUR MAY BE DESIRABLE
Peer
Maccoby et al
Lamb and Roopnarine
Peers are prime socialising agency of gender development but not in early children where the most important parts of gender development take place.
Peer behaviour reinforces what is learnt.
Preschool children - male type behaviour when reinforced lasted longer with boys - peer reinforcement is a reminder
Media
village without TV - Charlton et al
Signorello and Bacue
Found no changes in behaviour after being exposed to television
Due to pre existing community values that reduced the effect of exposure to the media
(About aggression and not gender however)
Media is to reinforce the status quo
Examined over 30 years of TV and found little change in gender stereotypes
The role of biological factors in social learning
Bandura did not ignore this.
The starting point for gender is knowing what sex you are which is based on biology and gender identification at birth.
Exposure to non-stereotypical information in the media
Can change perceptions.
Stereotyping reduced when children were shown adverts with women in non traditional roles
Pressure on programme makers to use this to alter attitudes
(Real life application)
