Kohlberg's theory Flashcards
What type of theory is Kohlberg’s theory?
cognitive developmental theory - it explains how children change as they get older in terms in changed in the way they think
What does Kohlberg’s theory draw ideas on?
Piaget’s theory that the way we think changes because of physical changes in the brain
What is stage 1 ?
Gender labelling
What age does gender labelling take place?
2-3 years
Describe the gender labelling stage
- Children identify themselves and others as boy or girl, man or woman
- label based on external appearances
- will change label as appearance changes
- no gender constancy
Why does Piaget label the child’s thinking at stage 1 as pre-operational?
Child’s logic lacks internal consistency.
What is stage 2?
Gender stability
What age does gender stability occur?
4 years
Describe the gender stability stage
- recognise own gender is consistent over time
- gender concept is stable but consistency is not (e.g. not recognise gender is same across different situations, might turn to female if engaging in female activities)
- Under 7 - still swayed by outward appearances
What study shows that children are still swayed by external appearances?
McConaghy (1979) - when children shown a line drawing of clothes where male genitalia were still shown through dress, under 5 still thought doll was a girl
What is stage 3?
Gender constancy
What age is gender constancy achieved?
6
Describe the gender constancy stage
- realise that gender is constant across situations
- Now fully developed gender constancy (constant across lifetime and situations)
- Start to learn about gender appropriate behaviour
Why is gender appropriate behaviour only learnt at gender constancy?
Because it not relevant beforehand as they believe that gender may change
What is meant by gender development?
The process of learning our gender identity. Gender identity is a persons personal sense of gender
A03 Supporting evidence from research evidence
- Thompson (1975) who found 2yolds were 76% correct in identifying their sex, whereas 3yold 90%
- Shows the increasing ability to label themselves as predicted by Kohlberg’s theory
- Provides evidence for the increasing constancy levels provided by Kohlberg and providing validity to gender identity stage
A03 Some people criticise the way gender constancy is measured
- Bem (1989) says the tasks used to assess gender constancy are flawed
- genitalia knowledge than gender constancy is what lies at the root of gender development
- asked children to identify another toddler’s sex w/o clothes and then dressed appropriately
- 40% of 3-5 yolds were capable of conserving gender i.e. achieved gender constancy
- When asked to resolve a contradiction between genitals and clothing, children go for obvious cue hairstyles and clothing
- Therefore basing gender development on tasks of outward appearances we may be underestimating the knowledge of children - Kohlberg overlook children development
A03 Furthermore other research challenge that gender appropriate behaviours are develops around age 6
- Bussey and Bandura reported children as young as 4 felt good when playing with gender appropriate toys
- reported feeling bad when playing with gender inappropriate toys
- Show children develop some gender stereotypes before the age of 6
- Contradicts Kohlberg’s theory as not all children follow his stages of development specifically his gender constancy stage.
- calls into question his accuracy