Kohlbergs Theory Flashcards
Cognitive development approach
Because a child’s thinking about their gender is emphasised and concerned with the changes in thinking over time (age)
Link to Piagets theory
What does gender run parallel too?
Biological maturation runs parallel to intellectual development as the child matures biologically
What’s stage 1 of kohlbergs theory?
Gender identity/labelling
What age does gender identity occur?
Age 2
What happens during gender identity?
Children can correctly identify themselves as boy/girl. By age 3, can identify others. Their understanding is limited to labelling and have no sense of permanence of gender.
Eg: a boy may said “when I grow up I will be a mummy”
What is stage 2?
Gender stability
What age does gender stability occur at?
Age 4
What happens during gender stability?
Children realise that their gender stays the same but struggle to apply this logic to other people and other situations. Often confused over external changes to appearance
Examples of gender stability
People- man doesn’t remain a man if grows his hair long
Situation- believing people change sex if they engage in activities like a male nurse
What is stage 3?
Gender constancy
What age does gender constancy occur at?
Age 6
What happens during gender constancy?
Children recognise that gender remains consistent across time and situations. They can apply this to other people as well as themselves. Understand that someone is still a man if change their appearance.
Gender constancy search
Marks the point when children begin to seek out gender-appropriate role models to identify with and imitate. Kohlberg suggests once fully developed looks for evidence to confirm it.
