The Self, Gender, and Moral Development

ABSC Lec - Tue, Apr 7th

Infant self-Awareness

Early recognition of self as distinct, demonstrated by differential responses to self-touch versus external touch

Toddler self-Awareness

Emergence of “me” concept, marked by self-recognition in mirrors

Mirror Self-Recognition Test

Involves placing a child before a mirror with a “mark.”

Child between 18 and 24 months in mirror test

Child often recognize it as themselves and touch the mark on their face

Child under 18 months in mirror test

Often treat their reflection as another child

Use of Pronouns

Toddlers frequently demonstrate confusion with pronouns

Learn correct pronouns

Through reinforcement, extinction, and punishment

Early Childhood Self-Concept

Children define themselves through actions and abilities and develop self-awareness

Self-Awareness

The ability to recognize oneself as a distinct person

Erikson’s “identity versus role confusion.”

Stage in which adolescents attempt to figure out who they are and who they want to become

Self-complexity

Defining oneself through a wider array of roles

Self-esteem

How people feel about characteristics they associate with themselves

Global self-esteem

The feelings you have about your own general self-worth across all areas

Self-esteem during Adolescence

Self-esteem commonly declines during early adolescence

Ideal self

Represents the aspirations and desired characteristics

Discrepancy between

“real self” and “ideal self” can impact self esteem

Sex

Refers to biological attributes, typically assinged at birth based on physical characteristics

Gender

Encompasses roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities of individuals

Theories of Gender Development

Behaviorism, Cognitive Development Theory, Gender Schema Theory

Behaviorism

Gender identity is shaped through reinforcement of gender roles and activities

Parental influence

Parents reinforce sex-typed behaviors (soemtimes unconsciously)

Gender identity goes through

3 stages; age 2, age3, age 5

Gender identity (age 2)

Children can identify gender but the concept relies on external apperance

Gender stability (age 3)

Understand that gender will remain stable over time, but not sure if it’ll change if they do activities commonly performed by the other gender

Gender constancy (age 5)

Understand gender remains constant throughout life

Cultural learning

Children learn about gender from their specific society, not through fixed developmental stages

Self-concept Formation

Children’s self-concepts are shaped by the gender-related characteristics and expectations assigned by their culture

Behavioral Conformity

As children internalize these cultural gender schemas, they actively try to align their behavior and self-perception with those expectations

Ethnic and Racial identity

A person’s attitudes toward the racial and ethinic groups which they feel they belong

Ethinicity

Generally refers to a group of people that have a nationality or culture in common

Race

Physical characteristics that differ between groups of people, such as skin color

Racism learned

Discriminatory behaviors maintained by differential reinforcement

Racism Acquired

Through direct experience and adherence to discriminatory rules and stereotypes

Who popularized the gender schema theory?

Sandra Bem

Moral Development

The emergence, change, and understanding of morality from infancy to adulthood

Moral Development process

through which children develop proper behaviors toward other people in society based on social and cultural norms, rules, and laws

Behavior Analytic Approach

Reinforcement, Punishment, Imitation, Rule-governed behavior, Contingency-shaped behavior

The unique history of

contigencies of each individual results in differences in moral-behavior patterns

Behavior Analytic Approach

Morality (arrow) System of rule-governed behavior (arrow) Reinforce behavior that follows the rules

Who significantly shaped the behavior analytic approach to moral development?

Martha Pelaez

Kohlberg’s _ stages of moral development

6

Level 1 (kohlbergs moral development)

Pre-convetional Morality (age 3-8)

Stage 1 (kohlbergs moral development)

obedience and punishment: actions judged by consequences - avoid punishment

Stage 2 (kohlbergs moral development)

Self interest: “what’s in it for me” - seeks rewards

Level 2 (kohlbergs moral development)

Conventional Morality (age8-13; some adults)

Stage 3 (kohlbergs moral development)

Good interpersonal relationships: being “good” to gain approval from others

Stage 4 (kohlbergs moral development)

Law and order: Following societal rules and maintianing order

Level 3 (kohlbergs moral development)

Post-conventional (some adults)

Stage 5 (kohlbergs moral development)

Social contract: Understanding rules as changeable social agreements

Stage 6 (kohlbergs moral development)

Universal principles: Following universal ethical principles and personal conscience

Similarities

Involves reinforcement, involves punishment

Differences

Moral action vs reasoning/judgements, description vs. explanation, what’s the cause?

Early recognition of self as distinct, demonstrated by differential responses to self-touch versus external touch, is known as…

Infant self-awareness

What is “self-esteem”

How people feel about characteristics they associate with themselves