Kohlberg's theory

Question 1

What type of theory is Kohlberg’s theory?

Answer 1

cognitive developmental theory - it explains how children change as they get older in terms in changed in the way they think

Question 2

What does Kohlberg’s theory draw ideas on?

Answer 2

Piaget’s theory that the way we think changes because of physical changes in the brain

Question 3

What is stage 1 ?

Answer 3

Gender labelling

Question 4

What age does gender labelling take place?

Answer 4

2-3 years

Question 5

Describe the gender labelling stage

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Why does Piaget label the child’s thinking at stage 1 as pre-operational?

Answer 6

Child’s logic lacks internal consistency.

Question 7

What is stage 2?

Answer 7

Gender stability

Question 8

What age does gender stability occur?

Answer 8

4 years

Question 9

Describe the gender stability stage

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

What study shows that children are still swayed by external appearances?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is stage 3?

Answer 11

Gender constancy

Question 12

What age is gender constancy achieved?

Answer 12

6

Question 13

Describe the gender constancy stage

Answer 13

• realise that gender is constant across situations
• Now fully developed gender constancy (constant across lifetime and situations)
• Start to learn about gender appropriate behaviour

Question 14

Why is gender appropriate behaviour only learnt at gender constancy?

Answer 14

Because it not relevant beforehand as they believe that gender may change

Question 15

What is meant by gender development?

Answer 15

The process of learning our gender identity. Gender identity is a persons personal sense of gender

Question 16

A03 Supporting evidence from research evidence

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

A03 Some people criticise the way gender constancy is measured

Answer 17

• 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

Question 18

A03 Furthermore other research challenge that gender appropriate behaviours are develops around age 6

Answer 18

• 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