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Flashcards in 4/ Gender - cognitive explanations Deck (25)
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1
Q

what are the two different cognitive explanations called?

A

kohlbergs theory and gender schema theory.

2
Q

what is the brief theory behind kohlbergs theory?

A
  • gender comes about because of internal (conscious) mental processes
  • -> when you understand gender you become gendered
3
Q

how many stages did Kohlberg believe gender developed in?

A

three stages. the child becomes more sophisticated with gender as they age.

4
Q

what did Kohlberg argue?

A

that biological maturation (as you get older) underpins the process of gender.

5
Q

what other cognitive development assists in gender development? (Kohlberg theory)

A

conservation (happens at 7) a skill a child must develop before they develop gender. MEANS that the understanding that fundamental properties pf objects stay the sam despite changes in appearance.

6
Q

Name the three stages in order.

A
  1. gender identity
  2. gender stability
  3. gender constancy
7
Q

how old is the child and what happens in stage 1 of kohlbergs theory?

A

2 years old, can label their own gender, but believe if their appearance changes then they might change gender

8
Q

how old is the child and what happens in stage 2 of kohlbergs theory?

A

4 years old, knows their own gender is fixed but don’t think everyone else is.

9
Q

how old is the child and what happens in stage 3 of kohlbergs theory?

A

7 years old, understands gender is a fixed characteristic for EVERYONE

10
Q

What evidence is there to support Kohlbergs theory? 1

A

Thompson - 2 year olds were 76% correct in identifying their sex, 3 year olds were 90% correct - proves as you get older you understand gender more.

11
Q

What evidence is there to support Kohlbergs theory? 2

A

Tested understanding of gender across diverse cultures - all go through same stages - therefore theory can be considered universal regardless of social and cultural influences.

12
Q

what evidence challenges Kohlbergs theory?

A

challenges the idea that children need a sophisticated understanding of gender prior to displaying gender. proven children show gender preferences much earlier than 7, more like 2-3 years old.

13
Q

what issue is there with kohlbergs theory?

A

does not fully recognise th potential of genes and hormones - David reimer - biological maturation (cognitive awareness) was not the main factor in determining his gender identity.

14
Q

why is kohlbergs theory slightly reductionist?

A

ignores powerful social influences from parents, peers, media therefore is a limited explanation. BUT more balanced on the nature nurture spectrum than the SLT and biological - doesn’t break it down to just genes

15
Q

who came up with the gender schema theory?

A

Martin and halverson

16
Q

In what sense did the gender schema theory agree with Kohlberg?

A

cognitive processes are the important factor in gender development and that gender understanding increases with age.

17
Q

In what sense did the gender schema theory disagree with Kohlberg?

A

That specific cognitive processes are involved and the age age at which these occurred.

18
Q

At what age did GS theory believe an understanding of gender develops and what happens for it to develop?

A

3 years old, child begins searching for info in their environment to form an organised, mental cluster of related info about gender - their GENDER SCHEMA

19
Q

what happens in GS theory when the schema has developed?

A

child forms an in-group schema about their own gender and an out-group of opposite.

20
Q

which group in or out does the child pay most attention to in GS theory?

A

their in-group, becomes well develop and out group remains basic until later life, therefore girls know a lot abut girls and vice versa with boys.

21
Q

what information also does the child pay most attention to in the GS theory? give an example.

A

info that fits within their gender and they ignore info that is inconsistent with their gender. EG. child may have a schema where they see a nurse is a female occupation therefore if they saw a male nurse would not absorbs that info and would not remember but schema comes more flexible as you get older.

22
Q

what evidence is there to support gender schema theory?

A

showed pics to children of gender consistent and inconsistent roles, found that children remembered consistent pics e.g. male fire fighter then inconsistent e.g. female as a mechanic.

23
Q

what evidence is there to criticise this theory?

A

found that girls have a more flexible gender schema than boys - theory makes no attempt to explain this leaving it incomplete and is beta biased

24
Q

why is GS theory simplistic?

A

purely on the basis of cognitive processes - better explained by a combination of influences e.g. David reimer - had a gender schema representing females he was unable to adopt a female gender role

25
Q

how is the GS theory ethnocentrically biased?

A

assumes that Western cultures represent normal human gendered behaviour - some cultures operate a society where gender is not important of male and female behaviour - shows GST is only a explanation of gender development in societies in which there are clearly differentiated gender roles.

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