SLT Explanations of Gender Flashcards
What does SLT acknowledge the role of in gender development?
The environment
How does SLT believe people learn about gender appropriate behavior?
throughout their lives from a variety of sources
What are the two main processes in learning?
Acquisition of behaviour
Performance of behaviour
What is the first step in acquiring gender behaviour?
Attention (give example)
What is the second step in acquiring gender behaviour?
Retention or being able to recall (give example)
What is the third step in acquiring gender behaviour?
Identification, how we pick a role model
an individual associates with the qualities characteristics and views of another person who becomes a role model
The level of identification is affected by power, popularity and attractiveness
What is the fourth step in acquiring gender behaviour?
Modelling
When role models demonstrate or display a certain behaviour
It gives the opportunity to learn about gender appropriate behaviour, children will probably have several models who they imitate
What is the first step in performing gender behaviour?
Imitation
An individual consciously copies an action or behaviour
Children are more likely to imitate their role models
They need to have the self efficacy and motivated by reinforcement
What factor could affect the likelihood of imitation occuring?
If behaviour seen as appropriate for the gender role it is more likely to be copied
What is the final step in performing gender behaviour?
Reinforcement
Where behaviour is strengthened by positive outcomes or is seen as being rewarding
Can be direct through postive reinforcement or indirect through vicarious reinforcement
Outline Fagot’s observational study.
Aim- To see if parents treat their male and female toddlers differently when playing at home
Method- Observed 24 playing in parental presence. Recorded instances of reinforcement (verbal encouragement) and punishment (telling off).
Results- Girls: rewarded for female preffered behaviour such as dressing up and staying close to the parent
Boys: rewarded for playing with sex-appropriate toys such as cars and punished for playing with dolls
Conclusion- Parents respond differently to the behaviour of male and female toddlers encouraging them to behave in different ways
(Evaluation) Why is evidence e.g. Fagot that boys and girls are reinforced differently a strength?
Supports the theory so is more likely to be correct
(Evaluation) Why is observational studies finding gender appropriate behaviour being reinforced by different groups in society a strength?
Generalisable to other cultures
More evidence more liekly to be correct
(Evaluation) Why is the inability to explain the display of gender innappropriate behaviours weaken the theory?
It suggests its incomplete
(Evaluation) Why is the inability to explain new trends in gender behaviour (i.e taking on non-stereotypical roles) a weakness?
It is incomplete and outdated
