Social Learning Explanation of Gender Development Flashcards
What does this theory acknowledge?
The role that the social context plays in development and states that all behaviour is learnt form observing others. As such, it draws attention to the influence of the environment in shaping gender development.
How is direct reinforcement involved in this theory?
Children are more likely to be reinforced for demonstrating gender-appropriate behaviour. Boys are likely to be praised for being strong and punished for being gentle. Behaviours that are reinforced are then imitated and repeated, the reinforcement may be direct or indirect.
What is differential reinforcement?
When boys and girls are encouraged to show distinctly different gender-appropriate behaviour.
How is indirect reinforcement involved in this theory?
If the consequences of another persons behaviour are favourable then that behaviour is likely to be imitated. If a girl sees her mother receive a compliment when she wears makeup and a dress then she is likely to also wear makeup and a dress.
What is the evaluation - Smith and Lloyd?
Involved 4-6 month old babies who were dressed half the time in boys clothes and half the time in girls clothes. When observed interacting with unsuspecting adults, boys were given hammers and active toys and girls were given cuddly dolls and told they were pretty.
What is the evaluation - changing gender roles?
Androgyny shows that there is less of a distinction between what people regard as masculine and feminine. This can be explained by a shift in social expectations and cultural norms over the years meaning new forms of acceptable gender behaviour has been reinforced.
What is the evaluation - not a developmental theory?
Critics argue that this doesn’t provide a full picture of how learning processes change with age. The implication is that modelling and imitation can occur at any age. Dubin suggests that selection and imitation of gender-role behaviour does not come until later. This is consistent with Kohlberg’s theory in that children do not become active in their gender development until they reach gender constancy. The influence of age and maturation is not considered here.
