Kohlbergs Theory Of Gender Development

Question 1

Gender identity stage

Answer 1

18- 3years
Perceive male/ female
External appearance
By end: aware of own sex

Question 2

Gender stability stage

Answer 2

3-5years

Understanding gender is consistent over time but not across situations

Question 3

Gender constancy stage

Answer 3

6-7 years
Ability to understand it is constant across both time and situation
Learns gender appropriate behaviour
Attention to same sex models

Question 4

Gender labelling example

Answer 4

‘He has long hair so must be a girl now’

Question 5

Gender stability example

Answer 5

Labelling a picture of a girl playing football as a boy

Question 6

Gender constancy example

Answer 6

Labelling picture as a girl even though playing with ‘boys’ toys

Question 7

Slaby and Frey kohlbergs

Answer 7

Evidence of gender labelling: children over 2 could point to correct picture of a boy/ girl and say which they are

Question 8

Criticism of stage theories

Answer 8

Determinist, assumes fixed sequence

Slaby and Frey found gender constancy at earlier age

Question 9

Limitations of kohlbergs

Answer 9

• SLT: gender identity is outcome of observing role models
• lacks explanatory power; describes not explains
• over emphasis of cognitive factors and eg doesn’t consider genetics

Question 10

Holistic kohlbergs

Answer 10

Holistic rather than reductionist: varied explanation including elements of cognitive and observation- SLT

Question 11

Munroe

Answer 11

Observed same sequence across different cultures

Reinforces the idea that brain maturation is more important that social experience

Question 12

Slaby and Frey assessment of stage 1

Answer 12

Showed pictures of children M/f and asked ‘which one are you’
Children over 2 could give response

Question 13

Slaby and Frey assessment of gender stability

Answer 13

‘What were you when you were a baby?’ ‘When you grow up will you be mum/ dad?’
Only 3-4 ages could answer

Question 14

Slaby and Frey test for gender constancy

Answer 14

Show silent film of adults doing various activities and divided M/F
Found those with high constancy showed higher interest in same sex models, measured in visual attention
Around age of 6, as predicted

Question 15

Other theories arguments of gender dev

Answer 15

SLT: contradicts direction of effect predicted by Kohlbergs in that it says gender ID is the outcome of attending to role models
Parental attitudes are highly influential
Bem: argued kohlbergs underestimated age of gender cognition