Kohlberg’s cognitive explanation of gender

Question 1

what is Kohlberg’s theory associated with

Answer 1

cognitive-development and the view that a child’s mental concept of gender becomes more sophisticated with age.
as a child biologically matured their intellectual development and understanding of gender runs parallel

Question 2

what components make up Kohlberg’s stage theory of development

Answer 2

Stage 1, Gender identity, 2-3years
Stage 2, Gender stability, 4-5years
Stage 3, Gender constancy, 6+years

Question 3

what is Gender Identity

Answer 3

Stage 1, 2-3years:
- children can identify themselves and others as a boy or girl/man or woman
-gender isn’t fixed, eg a boy saying “i want to be a mum when i grow up”
- children don’t understand that gender is consistent over time

Question 4

what is gender stability

Answer 4

Stage 2, 4-5years:
- children realise they will always stay the same gender
- still confused by superficial features, failing to see situational constants
- logic doesn’t apply to others, eg a man in a dress will be seen as a woman
- believes that gender can change with activities eg a ‘male’ plumber

Question 5

what is gender constancy

Answer 5

stage 3, 6+years:
- children realise that gender is constant over time and situations, for both themselves and others
- may find a man in a dress unusual but still recognises them as a man ‘underneath’
- children seek out gender ‘appropriate’ role models to identify with/imitate

Question 6

explain imitation of role models:

Answer 6

• gender constancy is significant as children seek out gender-appropriate role models to identify with and imitate
• connects with ideas of SLT (although SLT can occur at any age, not just >6y)
• For Kohlberg, once the child has fully developed and internalised the concept of gender at the constancy stage, they actively search for confirming evidence of the concept

Question 7

what’re 2 strengths of Kohlberg’s cognitive stage theory of gender

Answer 7

role model focus
universal validity

Question 8

how is role model focus a support for Kohlberg’s cognitive stage theory of gender

Answer 8

• children were showed a split screen with images of males and females doing the same task. younger children spent the same amount of time watching each gender but older children spent longer looking at the same-sex model.
• supports Kohlberg by children in Constancy (>6y) seeking role models to imitate, focusing on the same-sex figure as they know gender to be fixed, whereas younger children didn’t understand fixed gender

Question 9

how is universal validity a support for Kohlberg’s cognitive stage theory of gender

Answer 9

• Munroe found cross cultural evidence of Kohlberg’s theory in countries as far as Kenya, Samoa and Nepal.
• suggests that it is universal and gives validity to Kohlberg’s stages
• supports the idea of cognitions developing in line with biological maturation, as maturation rates are the same globally

Question 10

what’re 2 limitations of Kohlberg’s cognitive stage theory of gender

Answer 10

-early guilt going against gender norms
-lack of development in children in interviews

Question 11

how is early guilt in going against gender norms a limitation of Kohlberg’s cognitive stage theory of gender

Answer 11

• Bussey & Bandura found that children as young as 4 reported ‘feeling good’ or ‘bad’ playing with gender appropriate/inappropriate toys respectively
• contradiction as children shouldn’t have gender constancy at 4y and so should feel the guilt of going against gender norms
• should only happen at 6+y
• Kohlberg’s stages could be too late and gender development happens earlier