Cognitive Explanations for Gender Development Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is Kohlberg’s Theory?
A staged cognitive theory based on Piagetian cognitive development.
What is Gender Schema Theory?
A continuous cognitive theory proposed by Martin & Halverson.
What are the stages of Kohlberg’s Theory of Gender Development?
- Gender Identity (2–3 years) - Child can identify their own and others’ gender using superficial traits.
- Gender Stability (4–6 years) - Child understands their own gender is permanent, but not others’.
- Gender Constancy (7+ years) - Child understands gender is constant for everyone.
What drives progress through Kohlberg’s stages?
Biological maturation.
What supporting evidence exists for Kohlberg’s Theory?
Children 4+ understand gender stability and children 7+ spend more time observing same-sex models.
What are some methodological flaws in Kohlberg’s research?
Interviews with very young children may not accurately reflect their cognitive understanding.
What contradictory evidence exists regarding Kohlberg’s Theory?
Evidence shows sex-stereotypical behavior as early as age 2, questioning the timing of active gender processing.
What is a limitation of Kohlberg’s Theory?
It describes developmental stages but lacks depth in explaining why cognitive changes occur.
What does Gender Schema Theory propose?
Development of gender understanding builds over time, starting at 2–3 years when children can label their gender.
What are in-group and out-group schemas in Gender Schema Theory?
In-group schemas favor same-gender behaviors, while out-group schemas distort or forget behaviors inconsistent with their schema.
What supporting evidence exists for Gender Schema Theory?
Children remember sex-stereotypical images better than non-stereotypical ones.
What does cross-cultural research show about Gender Schema Theory?
Different tribes in Papua New Guinea showed different gender behaviors, supporting the role of nurture.
What is a strength of Gender Schema Theory compared to Kohlberg’s Theory?
It explains early stereotypical behavior at 2 years, which Kohlberg cannot.
What is a limitation of Gender Schema Theory?
It neglects biological influences, focusing solely on environmental experiences.
What are the similarities between Kohlberg’s Theory and Gender Schema Theory?
Both are cognitive theories and acknowledge some role of the environment in gender development.
What are the differences between Kohlberg’s Theory and Gender Schema Theory?
Kohlberg’s theory is staged while Gender Schema Theory is continuous; Kohlberg states active processing begins at 7+, while schema theory states it begins at 2+.
