Kohlbergs-EVAL Flashcards
A STRENGTH of Kohlbergs theory is that it has supporting RESEARCH hat stereotyping DOES emerge around the age of 6 as PREDICTED.
Damon told children a story about George, a BOY who liked to play with DOLLS and then asked them to comment. 4 year olds said it was FINE for him to play with dolls if he wanted, 6 year old said that it was WRONG (more likely in CONSTANCY stage) This means they have DEVELOPED genders stereotypes about what boys and girls ought to DO, which is a FEATURE of gender constancy
This suggests support for Kohlbergs theory of gender DEVELOPMENT in that children who have reached CONSTANCY stage have formed RIGID gender stereotypes with regards to gender APPROPRIATE behaviour.
HOWEVER Bussey and Bandura found that children as young as 4 felt good about playing with gender APPROPRIATE toys and fee BAD doing the opposite, this goes AGAINST Kohlbergs theory of gender devel. as the theory would predict that children THIS age would NOT feel like this. Instead this supports the GST which suggests that children get IDEAS about right and wrong gender behaviours at a young age.
one LIMITATION of Kohlbergs theory is that it’s supporting research relies on UNSATISFACTORY methods to assess gender constancy.
BEM criticised the method used in many studies. Test is to see whether children understand that gender stays the SAME despite outward changes but Bem states that it was NOT fair on the children and it is likely to CONFUSE them as that is how e DIFFERNTAITE between males and females in out culture e.g. hair or clothes
Therefore she suggested better for them to identify based on PHYSICAL differences like genitalia. Bem found 40% children 3-5 able to demonstrate CONSTANCY if they were shown the naked pictures of the child to be identified first, and base their judgments on MORE than just clothes.
Therefore this suggests that Kohlberg’s theory and stages may MISREPRESENT what younger children actually know. Children may be able to how constancy much EARLIER than Kohlberg suggested they develop ot, going against Kohlberg’s theory of the development of gender.
another LIMITATION of Kohlbergs theory is that other researchers have suggested that there may be different DEGREES of gender constancy.
E.g. Martin et al suggests that there are different DEGREES of gender constancy, e.g. first may develop BEFORE 6 and make children realise the IMPORTANCE of gender e.g. in choosing FRIENDS or seeking info.
2nd degree which develops LATER may heighten their RESPONSIVENESS to gender norms e.g. choose appropriate clothes and attitudes.
Therefore this suggests that getting gender constancy is a more GRADUAL process than Kohlbergs theory suggested, and that it may also begin EARLIER than K thought.
nature-nurture
Kohlbergs stages theory of development may b eseen as a NATURE approach as the stages are influenced by changes in the BRAIN and increased intellectual capacity with age.
This is supported by CROSS-CULTURAL studies were the COG changes may be universal and therefore, BIOLOGICAL.
However, he does also suggest that children SEARCH for confirmation of gender stereotypes in the constancy stage, acknowledging NURTURe.
Therefore it would seem that gender development is due to a nature-nurture INTERACTION.
