Kohlbergs Theory And Gender Schema Theory Flashcards
Give a brief explanation of Kohlbergs theory.
Gender is a gradual process. An understanding of why is appropriate gender roles, attitudes and behaviours becomes more sophisticated with age. Biological maturation and conservation underpin this process.
Define biological maturation.
The development of the brain and cognitive systems.
Define conservation.
The understanding that fundamental properties of objects stay the same despite changes in appearance.
Explain stage 1 of Kohlbergs theory.
GENDER IDENTITY. 2-4 years. The child knows whether they’re a girl or a boy, but not what determines gender. They believe that if their appearance should change, they might change gender. It is centred around external characteristics.
Explain stage 2 of Kohlbergs theory.
GENDER STABILITY. 4-6 years. Children realise their gender won’t change if they grow up and they are the same gender as they were as a baby. They still think a change in appearance can change gender and rely on superficial external factors, not physical determinants of gender.
Explain stage 3 of Kohlbergs theory.
GENDER CONSTANCY. 6-7 years. A child now has the understanding that gender doesn’t change over time or situation. They understand that gender is identified by anatomical differences and appearance doesn’t alter gender. They seek out gender appropriate models to identify and imitate.
Evaluate Kohlbergs theory (SCIP).
S: Munroe found that children went through the same stages in the same sequence in diverse cultures like Kenya, Nepal, Belize and samoa, supporting biological maturation. Thompson found 2 year olds 76% correct at identifying own gender but 3 year olds 90%.
C: martin and little found children age 2-3 showed clearly gendered attitudes and behaviours, so age may be younger than Kohlbergs suggests.
I: slightly reductionist as ignored social factors
Define a gender schema.
A package of information about male and female behaviours/ qualities that influence other information processes like memory.
Briefly describe gender schema theory.
As soon as a child can identify themselves as either a boy or girl,they search for information in their environment to form an organised mental cluster of information about gender. The child actively pays attention that is consistent with their gender schema and remembers information consistent with it.
What is an in group?
Based on their own gender. They focus most on this.
Why are children rigid in their understanding of gender according to the gender schema theory?
They ignore or reject information not in line with the schema.
Give SCIP for gender schema theory.
S: martin and haverson showed children pictures of people in gender consistent and inconsistent roles. Children remembered gender consistent pictures better than inconsistent.
C: archer found that girls had a more flexible schema - beta bias?
I: simplistic - gender better explained by a combination of influences. David Reimer couldn’t adopt female identity despite female in group schema.
