Gender socialisation Flashcards
Patterns of socialisation
Sutherland argues that different patterns of socialisation experienced by boys and girls reinforces behaviour that may encourage criminality in boys, and discourage it in girls.
Sex role theory
Argues that boys and girls are socialised differently, therefore resulting in boys becoming more delinquent.
Sex role theory - Sutherland (1949)
Girls are more supervised and more strictly controlled.
Boys are encouraged to take risks and be tough and aggressive.
Therefore, boys have more of an opportunity and an inclination to commit crime.
Bandura (1977) - gender socialisation
Gender socialisation can also be explained using Social Learning theory.
Bandura argues that all people learn behaviour by observing and imitating role models.
Role models
Role models are more likely to be observed and imitated if they share characteristics with the observer, such as being of the same gender.
Children therefore will learn their gender behaviour mainly from their parents, with boys imitating their fathers, and girls imitating their mothers.
Cohen (1955)
Suggested that girls have easy access to their mothers whereas traditionally fathers have been rather elusive role models as they are less frequently available for their sons.
Dabbs et al (1987)
Found that 9 out of 11 inmates with the lowest testosterone concentrations had committed nonviolent crimes, whereas 10 out of 11 inmates with the highest testosterone concentrations had committed violent crimes.
Suggests that testosterone is related to increased aggression.
Eriksson et al (2003)
Compared the hormone levels of males who had a history of alcohol-related aggression showed a negative correlation between oestradiol levels and testosterone related physical, violent aggression.
Suggests that both male and female hormones play a role in at least some criminal behaviours.
