Social learning theory explanations of gender development

Social learning theory explanations of gender development

• Social learning theory states that gender is essentially learnt form others. It implies that there are not psychological differences between males and females when they are born. - gender differences develop because of the way society treats the two sexes

According to SLT, the two conditions to acquiring a behaviour are:

Attention: Eg. a boy watches his older brother playing football

Retention

• An individual learns their gender from the people that they come into contacts with Eg, live models (family, peers) or symbolic models (celebrities)

• There is evidence that an individual identifies more with same-sex models (Bandura). Level of identification can also be affected by factors like power and popularity

According to SLT, the two conditions to performing a behaviour are:

Motor Reproduction

Motivation

Imitation

• Imitation occurs when behaviour is reproduced. Eg…