Gender - (Cognitive) Kohlberg’s theory

• Who came up with the cognitive-developmental theory of gender?

  Kohlberg
• What is the cognitive-developmental theory of gender?


  A child’s understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated with age
• Why does Kohlberg believe a child’s understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated with age?

  A result of biological maturation - brain matures so does thinking
• How many stages are there for gender development?


  3
• What does the transition from stage to stage represent?


  Gender development is gradual rather than sudden
• What is Stage 1 of Kohlberg’s theory?


  Gender Identity
• What age is the gender identity stage?

  2-3years old
• What happens at around 2 years old in the gender identity stage?


  Children are able to correctly identify themselves as boy or girl
• What happens at around 3 years old in the gender identity stage?

  Most children are able to identify other people as boys or girls

  But their understanding is limited to simple labelling
• Do children in the gender identity stage view gender as fixed?


  No
• At what age do children acquire gender stability?


  4 years old
• What happens in the gender stability stage?


  Realisation that they will stay the same gender

  Can’t apply this logic to other people
• Why do children in the gender stability stage not understand that other people’s genders are fixed?


  Confused by external changes in appearance e.g. long hair in men

  Can believe gender changes when engaging in activities that divert stereotypes e.g. a man who is a nurse
• What age is the gender constancy stage?


  6 years old
• What happens in the gender constancy stage?


  Children understand gender remains constant across time and situations - their logic is applied to their own gender and others
• Why is the gender constancy stage significant?


  Children of this age begin to seek out gender-appropriate role models to identify with and imitate
• The idea that children start to seek out gender appropriate role models to identify with and imitate, at the gender constancy stage, is related to ideas belonging to which theory?


  Social Learning Theory
• What does Kohlberg believe happens when a child fully develops their understanding of gender at the gender constancy stage?

  They search for evidence confirming the concept - gender stereotyping begins to emerge
• What are the stages outlined in Kohlberg’s theory?


  Gender identity

  Gender stability

  Gender constancy
• What are the evaluation points for Kohlberg's cognitive-developmental theory of gender?


  Research Support (Damon)

  Counterpoint (Bussey & Bandura)

  Nature (Munroe) or Nurture (Bussey & Bandura)
• What is the research support of Kohlberg’s theory?

  Damon’s research suggests that gender stereotyping does emerge around 6 years old
• What was Damon’s research which supported Kohlberg's idea of gender stereotyping emerging at age 6?


  • Asked children to comment on a story of a boy who liked to play with dolls
  • 4 year olds said it was fine if he wanted to
  • 6 year olds said it was wrong
  • The 6 year olds went beyond understanding gender and imposed their own rules on what would be appropriate behaviour according to gender
• What does Damon’s research suggest?

  That children who achieve gender constancy have formed rigid stereotypes regarding gender appropriate behaviour
• What is the counterpoint to research support from Damon?


  Research challenging the idea that understanding of gender - appropriate behaviour develops age 6
• What did Bussey & Bandura find in their study which acts as a counterpoint to research support from Damon?

  • When playing with gender appropriate toys 4 year olds felt ‘good’
  • They felt ‘bad‘ about doing the opposite
• Is Kohlberg’s theory a nature or nurture approach?


  Nature - stages are influenced by changes in the developing brain
• Who’s cross-cultural study supports Kohlberg’s nature approach?


  Munroe
• What did Munroe’s study suggest?

  Cognitive changes are universal and therefore biological
• As part of the nature limitation what does Kohlberg fail to account for?

  Socialisation process in the development of gender
• What did Bussey & Bandura claim which can act as a limitation of Kohlberg’s nature approach?


  That social processes of observation, imitation and identification play a larger role in gender development than cognitive structures
• On a 16 marker what would the structure be?

  Stages in development

  Gender Identity

  Gender Stability

  Gender Constancy

  Research support (Damon & boy who plays with a doll - difference between 4 and 6 year old)

  Counterpoint (Bussey & Bandura 4 year olds feeling bad)

  Nature (Munroe) or Nurture (Bussey & Bandura - nature approach discredits socialisation process)