Social Learning Theory As Applied To Gender Development

Question 1

Three factors of social learning/ cognitive theory (Bandura 1991)

Answer 1

Modelling/ vicarious learning
Vicarious reinforcement
Enactive experience and differential reinforcement

Question 2

Modelling/ vicarious learning

Answer 2

Observe behaviours of both sexes and store as cog representations and pay attention to those performed frequently and consistently by same sex (id most)

Question 3

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 3

Consequences of observed behaviour
More likely to adopt modelled behaviour if they produce valued outcomes rather than undesirable effects (Bandura and Barab) and if it has rewards

Question 4

Enactive experience and differential reinforcement

Answer 4

Gains E experience as soon as child becomes mobile
Begin to perform gender related behaviours (enactive rep of their knowledge of gender stereotypes)
Differential (expected behaviours for boys/ girls)

Question 5

Outcome expectancies

Answer 5

Created from differential reinforcement
Regulate future behaviour
Form cognitive part of theory, mental representations that contain info regarding possible rewards and punishments ass. with displaying behaviour in a specific situation

Question 6

Self efficacy

Answer 6

Belief that this person is capable of imitating the behaviour and they identify with the role model
Self- evaluation and self regulation also develop

Question 7

Seavey et al procedure baby X

Answer 7

Researchers told 1 in 3 adult ppts that a 3month old baby dressed in yellow was either a boy/ girl or didn’t reveal at all
Left to play with baby in a room: had 3 toys of a ball (stereo b), doll (stereo g) and plastic ring (non sex)

Question 8

Findings of seavey et al baby X experiment

Answer 8

Males and female adults gave baby the doll if they believed it to be female
More likely to give non- stereotypical toy if it was thought to be a boy
If unknown gender- tried to assess gender based of perceived strength, all ppts reacted differently according to gender they perceived

Question 9

Comment if baby x experiment

Answer 9

Reinforcements of different genders

Question 10

Research suggesting parents do act as gender role models for their children

Answer 10

Children from more traditional families displayed more gender role stereotyping than those who worked
Suggest children model from parents and internalise values
Contradictory evidence shows direct tuition has most sig effect

Question 11

Bussey and Bandura peer reinforcement

Answer 11

3yo disapproved of gender inconsistent behaviour displayed by another child (eg g playing football) but rated own feelings of masculine/ feminine toys equally
At 4yo children also critical of such behaviour and also self critical of toys
Shows self reg increases with age

Question 12

Langlois and Downs- peers as a stronger influence

Answer 12

Peers less tolerant of gender inappropriate beh than mothers (simple not reinforce rather than punish)

Question 13

SLT and gender differences of same sex siblings

Answer 13

Would be assumed if they’d have same gender development yet isn’t always the case eg one brother being more masculine
Reduces the validity

Question 14

SLT as adevelopmental

Answer 14

Too much emphasis on social processes
Eg biological approach would dispute that gender is learned and would say gender is largely predetermined by conception
SLT cant explain gender stages with age: assumes there are no dev stages
Impossible to raise someone w/o gender perception