Cognitive explanations of gender
- Created by: maddieecarr
- Created on: 10-04-22 11:35
View mindmap
- Cognitive explanations of gender
- Gender schema theory
- Gender schema: an organised set of beliefs around gender which are derived from experiences. This guides an individuals perception and understanding of their own gender and also gender appropriate behaviour
- Martin and Halverston’s cognitive-developmental theory
- At age 2/3 child explores the environment for information that matches their gender schema
- Schema is formed around stereotypes of what boys and girls are like
- E.g dolls for girls, cars for boys
- Information which does not fit the gender schema is ignored
- Better understanding of the schema which matches their own gender (“in group”)rather than the opposite sex (“outgroup”)
- At age 8 a child develops a schema for birth in and out groups
- Better understanding of the schema which matches their own gender (“in group”)rather than the opposite sex (“outgroup”)
- Schema is formed around stereotypes of what boys and girls are like
- Kohlberg’s gender constancy theory
- Stages of development:gender development and understanding become more sophisticated with age
- 1. Gender identity (age 2/3) - The child recognises their own gender. They cannot understand that sex is permanent
- 2. Gender stability (age 4/5) - The child understands that their own gender does not change, but that of others may based on outward appearances.
- 3. Gender constancy (age 6+) - Understand that gender is fixed in all individuals regardless of appearance.
- 2. Gender stability (age 4/5) - The child understands that their own gender does not change, but that of others may based on outward appearances.
- 1. Gender identity (age 2/3) - The child recognises their own gender. They cannot understand that sex is permanent
- Stages of development:gender development and understanding become more sophisticated with age
- Evaluation of GST
- Strengths
- Reinforces Kohlberg’s theory
- Helps to explain how children think about behaviour
- Martin and Little; Martin and Halverston have research support
- Weaknesses
- Overemphasis on the role of the individual rather than biological and general environment
- Limited support for some key assumptions of this theory
- Strengths
- Gender schema theory
Comments
No comments have yet been made