Kohlberg's theory - AO1

Question 1

What is Kohlberg’s theory?

Answer 1

Cognitive developmental theory of gender:
Child’s understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated with age

• It comes as a result of biological maturation

Question 2

What are the three stages?

Answer 2

• Gender identity
• Gender stability
• Gender constancy

Question 3

What is gender identity?

Answer 3

Age 2:

• Children are able to indentify their own gender as “boy” or “girl”

Age 3:

• Most can identify other people’s gender and can answer questions
• Understanding gender does not extend beyond basic labelling
• Children see gender as fluid

Question 4

What is gender stability?

Answer 4

Age 4:

• The realisation that gender will stay the same over time
• Children are able to apply this logic to others
• Might describe any person with long hair as a woman
• They are still fooled by changes in appearance

Question 5

What is gender constancy?

Answer 5

Age 6:

• Children recognise that gender remains constant across all time and situations
• They apply this principle to themselves and others
• Children will begin to seek out role models to identify with and imitate
• When the child has internalised the concept of gender they search for evidence that confirms this concept ans start to stereotype