Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory

• Cognitive explanations

  - focuses on the development of a child's understanding of gender.

  - understanding develops as part of an innate, age related process, which is the same for every person (NATURE)

  - the specifics of the gender concepts children develop depend on family/cultural experiences (NURTURE)
• Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: gender identity


  Age: 2-3

  - identification of the sexes based on superficial factors e.g. outward appearance/ behaviour

  - children begin to show interest in playing with their own sex

  - children believe that sex can change

  - certain characteristics associated with different sexes

  - children can say whether they are a boy or a girl

  - children can identify other people's sex
• Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: gender stability


  Age: 3-4

  - children understand that their sex won't change over time, but can still be confused by misleading appearances.

  - the child is "egocentric"; they don't understand that gender stability applies to everyone
• Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: gender constancy


  Age: 4-7

  - identification of the sexes isn't purely based on appearance and behaviour

  - genitals are used as a way to identify sexes, which are unchangeable

  - children actively seek out role models to imitate, and internalise altitudes to help develop their sense of gender.

  - children understand that sex is constant across time and situations

  - the chill "de-centres" they understand that gender stability applies to everyone.
• Evidence for Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: Slaby & Frey (1975)

  Aim - To investigate the development of the understanding of gender in children aged 2-5 years old to see whether the concept changed with age.

  Method - young children were asked a series of questions to assess stage of development

  Gender identity question: Is this a girl doll or a boy doll?

  Gender stability question: When you grow up will you be a mummy or a daddy?

  Gender constancy question: Would you be a boy or a girl if you wore (opposite sex's clothes)?
• Evidence for Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: results + conclusion

  Results: answers correct

  2-3 = gender identity qs

  3-4 = gender stability qs

  4-7 = gender constancy qs

  conclusion: the understanding of gender occurs in age related stages
• Evidence for Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: Slaby and Frey part 2

  - children were assessed in terms of whether they had yet reached gender constancy using a series of questions. They were divided into children demonstrating low and high levels of gender constancy

  - each child was then shown a silent film in which one male and female adult model carried out a stereotypical activity. The 2 models were simultaneously visible on a split screen.

  - the tracking technology monitored which model the child preferred to look at (the "visual preference technique")

  - It was found that those high in gender constancy spend longer looking at the same sex model than the low gender constancy children

  Conclusion: It's only when a child reaches gender constancy that they seek out same sex models which aligns with the theory.
• Evaluation of Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: universal

  • stages apply to children cross-culturally
  • results are universal and can apply to multiple different people
  • e.g. Munroe et al (1984) studied 3-9 year olds from four different cultures Belize, Nepal, American Samoa and Kenya and found the same stages were found
  • :)
• Evaluation of Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: rigid

  • Evidence shows that boys show more extreme gender typed behaviour than girls
  • more rigid outlook that can't be explained using the theory
  • e.g. they may have a stronger gender identity than girls and that makes gender constancy more difficult which suggest there are social factors that aren't taken into account
  • :(
• Evaluation of Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: less reductionist

  • Kohlberg's theory is relatively less reductionist than others
  • provides a more inclusive outlook than others
  • e.g. it doesn't reduce complex behaviours down to being just "part of our genes" like the biological approach does
  • :)
• Evaluation of Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory: gender schema theory

  • Evidence shows that children demonstrate stereotypical behaviours before they have reached gender constancy
  • children DON'T only pay attention to same sex role models AFTER they have reached gender constancy
  • e.g. evidence shows children will reward peers for gender appropriate behaviour in peers/report "feeling good" about playing with gender appropriate toys in very young children
  • :)