Cognitive explanations of gender development, Kohlberg's theory, gender identity, gender stability and gender constancy; gender schema theory.

What is Kohlberg’s Cognitive Developmental Theory of Gender?

• Kohlberg argued that children’s understanding of gender develops in stages.
• As children’s cognitive abilities develop, their understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated.

What is Gender Identity?

• First stage of Kohlberg’s theory.
• Develops around 2-3 years.
• Child can identify themselves and others as male or female.

What are the Characteristics of Gender Identity?

• Child can label gender correctly.
• Child does not understand that gender remains constant over time.

What is Gender Stability?

• Second stage of Kohlberg’s theory.
• Develops around 4 years.
• Child understands gender remains stable over time.

What are the Characteristics of Gender Stability?

• Child understands boys grow into men and girls grow into women.
• Child is still influenced by appearance.

What is Gender Constancy?

• Final stage of Kohlberg’s theory.
• Develops around 6 years.
• Child understands gender remains constant despite changes in appearance or behaviour.

What are the Characteristics of Gender Constancy?

• Gender does not change because of clothing, hairstyle or activities.
• Child understands a male remains male even if he wears a dress.

Why is Gender Constancy Important in Kohlberg’s Theory?

• Children actively seek gender-role information only after achieving gender constancy.
• Understanding gender comes before gendered behaviour.

What is Self-Socialisation?

• Children actively seek information about their gender role.
• Children motivate themselves to behave in gender-appropriate ways.

What is a Schema?

• Mental framework used to organise and interpret information.
• Helps individuals process information efficiently.

What is Gender Schema Theory?

• Proposed by Martin and Halverson.
• Gender development occurs through the formation of gender schemas.
• Children actively organise information about gender into schemas.

What is a Gender Schema?

• Mental framework containing beliefs and expectations about gender.
• Organises information about males and females.

What is an In-Group Schema?

• Schema about a child’s own gender.
• Contains information about how members of their own gender should behave.

What is an Out-Group Schema?

• Schema about the opposite gender.
• Contains information about how members of the opposite gender behave.

How do Gender Schemas Influence Behaviour?

• Children seek information consistent with their gender schema.
• Children are more likely to remember schema-consistent information.
• Schemas guide gender-role behaviour.

How Does Gender Schema Theory Differ from Kohlberg’s Theory?

• Kohlberg argued gender constancy must develop before gender-role behaviour.
• Gender Schema Theory argues gender development begins much earlier.
• Children form schemas before achieving gender constancy.

Slaby and Frey — Aim

• Investigated whether children with gender constancy pay more attention to same-sex role models.

Slaby and Frey — Procedure

• Children viewed a split-screen showing male and female models.
• Researchers measured which model the children watched most.

Slaby and Frey — Findings

• Children with gender constancy spent more time watching same-sex models.
• Supports Kohlberg’s theory.

Slaby and Frey — Conclusion

• Gender constancy encourages children to seek gender-role information.
• Supports self-socialisation.

Martin and Halverson — Aim

• Investigated the influence of gender schemas on memory.

Martin and Halverson — Procedure

• Children viewed pictures of gender-consistent and gender-inconsistent activities.
• Memory for the pictures was later tested.

Martin and Halverson — Findings

• Children remembered gender-consistent information better.
• Children often distorted gender-inconsistent information.

Martin and Halverson — Conclusion

• Gender schemas influence how children process and remember information.
• Supports Gender Schema Theory.

Kohlberg Evaluation — Research Support

• Slaby and Frey found children with gender constancy paid more attention to same-sex role models.
• Supports Kohlberg’s theory.

Why Does Research Support Strengthen Kohlberg’s Theory?

• Supports the idea that gender constancy motivates children to seek gender-role information.
• Provides evidence for self-socialisation.

Kohlberg Evaluation — Gender Development May Occur Earlier

• Research suggests children show gender stereotypes before achieving gender constancy.
• Challenges Kohlberg’s stage sequence.

Why Does Early Gender Development Weaken Kohlberg’s Theory?

• Suggests gender-role behaviour can develop before gender constancy.
• Contradicts Kohlberg’s explanation.

Gender Schema Theory Evaluation — Research Support

• Martin and Halverson found children remembered schema-consistent information better.
• Supports the existence of gender schemas.

Why Does Research Support Strengthen Gender Schema Theory?

• Demonstrates that schemas influence memory and behaviour.
• Supports the role of cognitive processes in gender development.

Gender Schema Theory Evaluation — Explains Active Role of Children

• Children actively seek and organise gender information.
• Emphasises the role of self-socialisation.

Why Does This Strengthen Gender Schema Theory?

• Recognises that children are active participants in gender development.
• Provides a more realistic explanation of learning.

Gender Schema Theory Evaluation — Biological Factors Ignored

• Focuses primarily on cognitive explanations.
• May underestimate biological influences such as chromosomes and hormones.

Why Does Ignoring Biological Factors Weaken Gender Schema Theory?

• Gender development is likely influenced by both biological and cognitive factors.
• Theory may be reductionist.

Gender Schema Theory Evaluation — Environmental Factors Also Important

• Parents, peers and culture influence gender development.
• Schemas may not fully explain gender behaviour.

Why Does This Weaken Gender Schema Theory?

• Gender development is likely influenced by multiple factors.
• Schemas alone may not provide a complete explanation.