Gender Schemas Theory (Martin and Halverson)

What does the schema affect regarding gender in children?

Memory and interests

What does the gender schema do?

Filter and distort info

What are the two schemas?

• In-group vs out-group (same vs opposite sex) schema

• Own sex schema

What is the in-group vs out-group schema?

• Categorises what something is for you / your gender

• Links to social psychology

What is the own sex schema?

Stores info about something that the child categorises for them, and filters out what is not for them

What do schemas do?

• Motivate us

• Regulate our behaviour

• Direct our interests