social learning theory applied to gender

Question 1

social learning theory

Answer 1

• cognitive and behavioural
• behaviour is developed from experience
• through socialisation children learn culturally appropriate gendered behaviour by observing others behaviours and how they are rewarded

Question 2

vicarious and differential reinforcement

Answer 2

1. VICARIOUS = children see others praise/rewarded for sex appropriate behaviour
2. DIFFERENTIAL = when children are praised for different behaviours e.g. boys = praised for being competitive, girls = quite play with dolls

Question 3

role models

Answer 3

• same sex
• older siblings/ parents = live models
• tv characters = symbolic models who are more likely to be identified with and imitated if similar

Question 4

mediational processes

Answer 4

• gendered behaviour only occurs if:
• attention, retention, motor reproduction and motivation

Question 5

smith and lloyd

Answer 5

• 32 new mothers were recorded playing with strangers 6 month old
• actor babies = dressed sex appropriately or cross sex
• a range of toys = m/f/n
• hammer = male baby
• doll = female
• verbally encouraged more physical activity with male
• differential reinforcement

Question 6

rust 2000

Answer 6

• sex of older siblings has an effect on gender development in 3 year olds
• 2000 children with a single sibling
• 3000 with no older sibling
• older brother = more masculine both m/f
• older sister = more feminine in boys
• sibling = role model, identification, imitation