Kohlberg’s Theory

• 1st Stage of Gender development

  
  

  GENDER IDENTITY

  • 2-3yrs
  • Children able to correctly identify themselves as a boy or girl
  • Can identify other ppl
  • Do not view gender as fixed
• 2nd stage of Gender development

  
  

  GENDER STABILITY

  • 4-5yrs
  • Realisation that they will always stay the same gender but cant apply this to others
  • Often confused by changes in external appearance
• 3rd stage of gender development

  GENDER CONSTANCY

  • 6yrs old
  • Recognises gender remains constant & is applied to others as well
  • No longer fooled by external appearances
  • Seek appropriate role models
• Research supporting Kohlberg’s theory - Damon (1977)


  Found that when children aged 4-6 were told a story about a boy that liked to play with dolls, the 4yr olds said it was fine but the 6yr olds said it was wrong

  -> Supports Kohlberg’s theory as it suggests that the 4yr old (gender stability stage) believes its okay for a boy to play with stereotypical girl toys as the 4yr old believes other people’s gender can change so its fine. However the 6yr old believes it wrong because they know that others genders stay the same across time 
• Research challenging Kohlberg‘s theory - Bussey & Bandura 


  Found that children as young as 4 reported ‘feeling good’ about playing with gender appropriate toys and ‘bad‘ about the opposite

  -> This challenges Kohlberg’s theory as it is the opposite of what he suggests as these young children seem to have an idea of gender identity and stereotypes 
• Research supporting Kohlberg‘s theory - Monroe et al (1984) 


  Found that the sequence of the development of the gender concept is similar in other cultures such as Kenya, Nepal, Belize and Samoa

  -> Suggests the cognitive changes may be universal 
• Research challenging Kohlberg’s theory - Bem (1989) 


  Methodological issues surrounding use of interviews with children

  Asking very young children questions that were aimed at older children may be difficult as younger children may not have the vocabulary to express their understanding

  -> Typical way of testing gender constancy may misinterpret what children actually know 
• Research Supporting Kohlberg’s theory- Slaby & Frey (1975)


  Carried out research in which children were presented with split-screen images of males and females performing the same task.

  Younger children spent roughly the same amount of time watching both sexes

  Children who have reached the gender constancy stage spent longer looking at the model who was the same sex as them

  -> Supports because Kohlberg states that children in gender constancy will seek out role models that are the same gender as themselves