Social learning theory Flashcards
Other explanations of gender development (12 cards)
What does the social learning theory suggest about gender development?
Influence of the environment in shaping gender development
Including significant others that the child comes into contact with
Culture and media
How does direct reinforcement influence gender development?
Child more likely to be reinforced for demonstrating behaviour that is stereotypically gender appropriate
Child is more likely to repeat a behaviour if it is reinforced
May be indirect or direct
What is differential reinforcement?
The way in which boys and girls are encouraged to show distinct gender-appropriate behaviour
Through this they learn their gender identity
What is indirect (vicarious) reinforcement?
If consequences of another persons behaviour are favourable - behaviour more likely to be imitated by child
If consequences seen as unfavourable - behaviour is unlikely to be copied
What is identification?
Child attaches themself to a person who is seen to be ‘like me’ or a person who ‘i want to be’
Person possesses qualities that the child sees as desirable
What is a role model?
May be apart of Childs immediate environment
Present within the media
Tend to be attractive, high status, usually same gender as child
What is modelling?
Precise demonstration of a behaviour that may be imitated by an observer
What is the meditational process
Attention
Retention
motivation
Motor reproduction
What is a strength of the social learning theory?
Supported by evidence
Smith and Lloyd
Babies aged 4-6 months
Dressed half the time in boys clothes half the time in girls clothes
Observed interacting with adults
Babies assumed to be a boy were more likely to be given hammer-shaped rattle - encouraged to be adventurous and active
When dressed as girls more likely to be handed cuddly doll - called pretty and reinforced for being passive
Suggesting gender appropriate behaviour is stamped in at an early age through differential reinforcement supporting social learning theory
What is a weakness of the social learning theory?
Differential reinforcement may not be the cause of gender differences in behaviour
Adults during interactions with own children - may simply be responding to innate gender differences that are already there
Eg. being encouraged to be active for boys may be because they are more active naturally due to hormonal differences
Suggesting is likely social learning theory is only part of the explanation of how children acquire gender related behaviours
What is a strength of the social learning theory?
Can explain cultural changes in stereotypes
No corresponding changes in basic biology within the same time period
Shifts much better explain by SLT than biological approach
Shift in social expectations and cultural norms over the years - new forms of gender behaviour are unlikely to be punished and may be reinforced
SLT can explain cultural changes in gender behaviour
What is a limitation of the social learning theory?
Doesn’t provide adequate explanation of how learning process changes with age
Modelling can occur at any age
However
Illogical that children who are eg 2 years old learn in the same way as children who are 9 years old
Conflicts with kohlbergs theory
Suggesting the influence of age and maturation on learning gender concepts is not a factor considered by social learning theory
