Kohlberg’s Theory (1966)

• What does Kohlberg's Theory of gender development suggest about children's understanding of gender?

  It develops through interaction with the world
• How does Kohlberg's Theory view the process of gender development?

  As a universal process of maturation and socialization
• What do children recognize during the Gender Identity stage?

  They recognize themselves as a boy or girl
• What is the first stage of Kohlberg's Theory and its approximate age range?

  Gender Identity, approx. 2-3 years
• How do children make judgments about gender during the Gender Identity stage?

  Based on external features like clothes
• What is the second stage of Kohlberg's Theory and its approximate age range?

  Gender Stability, approx. 4-6 years
• What do children understand during the Gender Stability stage?

  That gender is fixed and does not change
• What confusion might children experience during the Gender Stability stage?

  Confusion from external changes in appearance
• What is the third stage of Kohlberg's Theory and its approximate age range?

  Gender Constancy, approx. 7-12 years
• What realization do children achieve during the Gender Constancy stage?

  Changes in appearance do not change gender
• What happens when children achieve gender constancy?

  They start learning gender-appropriate behavior
• What are the three stages of Kohlberg's Theory of gender development?

  1. Gender Identity (2-3 years)
  2. Gender Stability (4-6 years)
  3. Gender Constancy (7-12 years)
• How does Kohlberg's Theory contrast with Social Learning Theory (SLT)?

  Kohlberg suggests understanding comes later
• What did Munroe et al (1984) find regarding gender development across cultures?

  The sequence of gender development was consistent
• What supporting research did Slaby and Frey (1975) provide for Kohlberg's Theory?

  Children with gender identity also had stability
• What did McConaghy (1975) discover about children's judgments of dolls?

  Children used hair length and clothes for sex
• What conflicting research did Thompson (1975) present against Kohlberg's Theory?

  Children as young as 2 could categorize gender
• What did Martin and Little (1990) find about children's gender stereotypes?

  Children held strong stereotypes before constancy
• What methodological issue does Kohlberg's Theory face?

  It relied on interviews with young children
• What implication does the methodological issue have on Kohlberg's Theory?

  It may lack validity regarding children's understanding
• What did Slaby and Frey find regarding children's attention to same-sex models?

  Children in gender consistency watched same-sex models more
• What are the strengths of Kohlberg's Theory?

  • Empirical support from Slaby and Frey
  • Universal stages found by Munroe et al
  • Empirical support from McConaghy