Cognitive Explanations Kholberg’s Theory

Underlying Assumptions Thinking processes How cognitions develop over time (cognitive developmental approach) Gender behaviour is due to understanding gender. Understanding is due to: Information gathering Brain development which in aids sophisticated cognitions. Stage Model- stage determines how mature information processing is. Gender information is not actively processed (mature) until Stage 3- gender constancy.

Kholberg’s Stages- Complete Stage Muddle as we go One 2-3 yrs Can label own and others gender identity, but believes can change as appearances change. Superficial Two 4 yrs Awareness that sex is stable over time (girls become women), but not over situations (girls who play football are boys). Lack ability to conserve the info across situations. Three 6 yrs Realises that sex remains the same, regardless of time or situation. Actively seek role models; imitate and internalise their behaviours. Didn’t need to before in case gender changed!

Which stage are they at? https://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=c49nWlZMq3Q&feature=r elated http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=VZb2len6f18&feature=pla yer_embedded Complete ‘Which stage am I at in Kholberg?’

Excellent Exam Questions

AO3- One weakness of kholberg’s Theory is that Gender Constancy may not be required to begin gender stereotyping. Many children demonstrate Gender Role behaviour before they reach the Gender Constancy Stage. Martin and Little 1990 found This contradicts the Constancy Theory as On the other hand this could be supportive of the Gender Schema Theory which suggests that

AO3- One weakness of kholberg’s Theory is that Gender Constancy may not be required to begin gender stereotyping. Many children demonstrate Gender Role behaviour before they reach the Gender Constancy Stage. Martin and Little 1990 found that under age 4, children didn’t show stability or constancy, but they did display strong gender stereotypes This contradicts the Constancy Theory as Kholberg predicts that they are not actively engaged in gender stereotyping intil they realise their gender is constant- age 6 not 4. On the other hand this could be supportive of the Gender Schema Theory which suggests that children are interested in stereotypical gender behaviours as soon as they identify as a gender (age 2-3).

AO3- One weakness of kholberg’s Theory is that it is Descriptive and not explanatory This means that This is an issue as This can be a further issue because

AO3- One weakness of kholberg’s Theory is that it is Descriptive and not explanatory This means that whilst it can tell us what happens when gender is acquired, it doesn’t indicate origins of the behaviour, except to say that it is based on the maturation of the brain. This is an issue as it can be considered to be vague if it cant offer an explanation of origins. This can be a further issue because it limits it’s real life application. If stereotyping is an issue in our society which can limit individual choice as well as career progression, we need to know how it is acquired in order to make an significant changes in terms of Gender Equality

AO3- One Strength of kholberg’s Theory is that it has supporting evidence Slaby and Frey (1975) found that This supports Kholberg’s theory as On the other hand they also found that boys developed gender constancy In addition to this the theory could be seen as outdated…

AO3- One Strength of kholberg’s Theory is that it has supporting evidence Slaby and Frey (1975) found that when interviewing 55 children aged between 2-5, that their responses tended to fit into the stages outlined by Kholberg. They asked them; ‘Which one are you?’ Gender Identity. ‘Were you a little boy or a little girl when you were a baby?’ and ‘When you grow up will you be a mummy or daddy?’ Gender Stability. ‘If you wore (insert opposite sex clothes), would you be a girl or a boy?’ and ‘Could you be an (insert opposite sex) if you wanted to be?’ Gender Constancy This supports Kholberg’s theory as it shows that understanding of gender remaining constant is only achieved in the 3rd stage approx. aged 6. On the other hand they also found that boys developed gender constancy before girls on average. This theory cannot explain such a phenomenon and therefore they theory may not reflect both genders equally. In addition to this the theory could be seen as outdated from its introduction in 1966. It must now be taken into account the range of messages presented to students from a range of media platforms.

Gender Schema Theory (Martin and Halverson 81)

Underlying assumptions Thinking processes How cognitions develop over time (cognitive developmental approach) Gender role behaviour is due to understanding of gender. Understanding is due to: Information gathering Brain development which in aids sophisticated cognitions. Labelling is all that is needed to develop begin seeking role models Much earlier than Kholberg Emphasised role of Schemas

What is a schema? Draw a girl thing.

In groups and Out Groups Our assigned sex and related gender is our in-group. Positive attitudes towards us, negative towards the oppositce. Serves to raise self esteem in belonging. Attention is paid to in-group behaviour to acquire an in-group schema. Anything inconsistent with in-group norm is ignored therefore never internalised. Can explain rigidity of gender steretypes