Cognitive explanation: Kohlberg’s theory

Cognitive development

The idea that our thinking changes as we get older

1. Gender changes are purely from our age-related changes in the brain

2. There is a gradual transition between stages

Stage 1: gender labelling

Age 2-3

1. A child can label someone’s gender as being a girl or boy

2. They can recognise someone is the same gender as them

3. No understanding that gender is constant

Stage 2: stability

Age 4

1. A child is still influenced by appearance of someone (eg a man holding a handbag would be seen as a woman)

2. Knowledge that gender is stable overtime

3. Not aware that gender is constant over situations

Stage 3: gender constancy

Age 6

1. A child can now recognise that gender also stays the same in all situations

2. They start to pay attention to gender-appropriate behaviours (self socialisation)

Strengths of Kholberg’s theory

1. Research support- Munro et al studied children across 4 different cultures and found that all the children progressed through the stages of Kohlberg’s. Must be biologically driven as countries have different environments but everyone went through the same stages.

   Slabs+Frey found that older children with higher levels of gender constancy paid more attention to same sex models- supports the idea of different gender development stages.

Weaknesses of Kohlberg’s theory

1. Other explanations- Kohlberg’s theory also doesn’t tell us why gender development follows these stages. Perhaps a biological approach, such as role of hormones and chromosomes could provide a more causational explanation.