Social Learning Explanation On Gender Development

Question 1

what does the SLT acknowledge for gender development?

Answer 1

• acknowlegdes that social context plays a role in development and states that all behaviour is learned from observing others
• there is an influence of environment (nurture) in shapung gender development = this includes significant others that children come into contact with - parents, peers and teachers amongst others, culture and media

Question 2

what is direct reinforcement in terms of gender?

Answer 2

• children are more likely to be praised and reinforced for demonstrating behaviour that is sterotypically gender-appropriate

Question 3

what are examples of gender-appropriate behaviours in boys?

Answer 3

• encouraged to be active, assertive and engage in rough-and-tumble

Question 4

what are examples of gender-appropriate behaviours in girls?

Answer 4

• rewarded for being passive, gentle and staying close to their parents

Question 5

what is it called when boys and girls are encouraged to show gender-appropriate behvaiours?

Answer 5

differential reinforcement

Question 6

what is vicarious reinforcement in gender?

Answer 6

• if the consequences of another person’s behaviour are favourable, that behvaiour is more likely to be imitated by a child
• a little girl sees a mother receive a compliment when she wear make-up and a pretty dress, then the girl may try and repeat this behaviour when able
• if the consequences of behvaiour are seen to punished then the behaviour is less likely to be imitataed
• if a boy sees another boy being teased for displaying feminine behaviour , so the behaviour is less likely to be copied

Question 7

what is identification?

Answer 7

• the process whereby a child attaches themself to a person who is seen to be like them, or the person they aspire to be
• person possesses qualities that a child sees as desirable
• these are role models (part of child’s environment)
• role models are attractive, high status and the same gender

Question 8

what is modelling?

Answer 8

• precise demonstration of a behaviour that may be imitated by an observer
• a mother may model sterotypically feminine behaviours when tidying house or preparing dinner
• the little girl would copy, and she is modelling the behaviour she has witnessed

Question 9

what are the 4 mediational processes?

Answer 9

1) attention
2) retention
3) motivation
4) motor reproduction