Kohlberg's theory

• Who created the ‘COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY OF GENDER

  DEVELOPMENT’?

  Lawrence Kohlberg
• Based on the child’s understanding of gender (gender roles, behaviours, attitudes) becoming more sophisticated with age

  
  

  • A result of biological maturation (thinking matures as the brain does)

  – i.e. as intellect develops so does their understanding of gender

  
  

  • Suggests 3 stages of development & reflects a gradual transition from

  each at approx. ages

  
  

  • Influenced by the work of Piaget
• Kohlberg’s stages of gender development

  Stage 1 - Gender identity

  
  

  Stage 2 - Gender stability

  
  

  Stage 3 - Gender constancy
• Stage 1 - Gender identity

  
  

  Around age 2 - Identify themselves as girl or boy

  
  

  Around age 3 – Identify others as male or female

  
  

  - Gender understanding is minimum

  
  

  - Not aware that sex is permanent – e.g. 2 year old boy may say he wants to be a mummy

  when he grows up!
• Stage 2 - Gender stability

  About age 4 – realise they will always be either a boy or a girl (sex stays the same over time)

  
  

  Cannot apply this logic to others

  
  

  Confused by external changes in appearance

  e.g. man with long hair identified as a woman

  
  

  Think people change sex according to activities

  associated with a gender e.g. a female that becomes a builder is now male!
• Stage 3 - Gender constancy

  
  

  - About age 6 – recognises sex stays constant across time & situations

  
  

  - Applied to others as well as themselves - i.e. no longer fooled by outward changes in appearance

  
  

  - Start to seek out gender appropriate role models to identify with & imitate (connects to SLT)

  
  

  - Gender stereotyping begins at this age