Social Explanation Flashcards
What is the main principle of parental influence?
Operant conditioning
How does operant conditioning influence gender behaviour in children?
Parents often have fixed views on how their little boy or girl should behave (appropriate behaviour for males and females). The expected behaviour is then positively reinforced.
What increases the likelihood of a child behaving in a certain way?
Positive reinforcement
What decreases the likelihood of a child behaving in a certain way?
If they are punished for the behaviour.
How do children learn what behaviour is appropriate for them?
Behaviours are either positively reinforced or punished
What is an example of positive reinforcement?
Praise, smiling, rewards, encouragement.
What behaviours might be encouraged in boys?
Risk taking behaviour such as climbing trees
What kinds of behaviours might be encouraged in girls?
Playing quietly, dancing
What studies are associated with the social approach?
Smith and Lloyd
Dr Alison Roberts
Williams
What studies are associated with the influence of parents?
Dr Alison Roberts
Smith and Lloyd
What were Smith and Lloyds findings?
Adults played with a 3 month old baby dressed in gender neutral clothes and they were give a male or female name. Typically, boys were played with more physically e.g bouncing or jiggling and they toys given were often stereotyped.
What do Smith and Lloyds findings suggest?
That adults already have predetermined ideas of how children of different genders should behave and be treated.
What were Dr Alison Roberts findings?
Mothers of boys estimated their little boy could crawl down a steeper slope that the mothers of the little girls who’s child was roughly the same height and weight.
Why is Dr Alison Roberts study good?
The dependant variable provides and objective measurement (height of the slope) which is good as it gives a precise result which is easy to compare.
What are the two social explanations of gender development?
Parental influence
Influence of the media
How gender development is influenced by the media?
Through social learning theory
Explain the social learning theory…
That we acquire new behaviour through observing and imitating others behaviour.
What impacts how accurately the behaviour is modelled?
The status and gender of the model. The confidence of the learner and if the model has been rewarded for the behaviour.
How does the media usually portray males?
As independent and focused
How does the media usually portray women?
Dependant and emotional
How does the media influence children’s ideas of gender behaviour?
The greater exporter they have to these media role models means they are more likely to displays these stereotyped attitudes.
What were William’s findings?
Previously, children in Notel which received no tv signal and Unitel which received one channel had weaker gender stereotypes of children than children in Multitel which had lots of channels. Once tv was introduced, they found theirs views had become more gender stereotyped.
What commentary is associated with media influence?
Disney
Explain Disney commentary…
Gender stereotypes and overarching in disney films. Women always have a hero, they are pretty and dependent on men. Whereas men are handsome, strong and are successful. Only recently have these stereotypes started to be broken down with films such as frozen and brave.
What debates are associated with media influence?
Socially sensitive
Explain socially sensitive debate…
Disney may limit young girls and boys aspirations and dreams as they may come to believe that all you need is love and money.
Explain the nature nurture debate…
This suggests it is nurture as it claims social factors affect gender stereotypes and development. It doesn’t mention nature which is evidently a contributing factor.