Cognitive explanations - gender schema theory

gender schema

An organised set of beliefs and expectations related to gender that are derived from experience. a generalised representation of everything we know in relation to gender and gender appropriate behaviour

theory

like kohlbergs theory

Gender schema acquired with gender identity

schema are mental constructs that develop via experience and are used by our cognitive system to organise knowledge around particular topics according to m + h

contrasts w kohlbergs view

contrasts w his view

Schema direct behaviour and self understanding

young children

ingroups and outgroups

children tend to have a much better understanding of the schemas that are appropriate to their own gender-ingroup this is consistent w the idea that children pay more attwntion to info relevant to their gender identity

strength

P-study by M and H found that children under the age of 6 were more likely to remember photographs of gender concistent behaviour than gender inconsistent behaviour when tested a week later E-children tended to change the sex of the person carrying out the gender inconsistent activity in the photographs when asked to recall them L-supports the idea that memory may be distorted to fit w existing gender schemas

strength

P-although many critics have drawn attention to the contradiction that lies at the heart of the 2 cognitive theories

strength

P-this theory can account for the fact that young children tend to hold very fixed + rigid gender attitues E-info that conflicts w existing schema

limitation

P-overemphasis on the role of the individual in gender development E-likely that the importance of schemas and other cogntiive factors in determining behaviour are exaggerated within the theory E-as w kolhbergs theory