Kohlberg's theory

• What did Kohlberg's theory say?

  Proposed that gender development occurs in three stages

  • Based on cognitive maturation and influence by Piaget's theory.
  • Children develop their understanding of gender as their thinking becomes more sophisticated with age.
• What are the 3 stages that he proposed?

  • Gender labelling
  • Gender stability
  • Gender constancy
• What is gender labelling?

  This is when children recognise if people are male or female.

  This happens between the ages of 2-3. (pre-operational)

  • Children can label others as male or female.
  • No understanding that gender is permanent.
• What is gender stability?

  This is when children recognise gender is stable over time (e.g., boys will grow into men).

  This happens between the ages of 3-4.

  • Children are still confused by changes in appearance (e.g., a man wearing a dress is now a women).
  • That means that they lack conservation
• What is gender constancy?

  This is when children recognise that gender remains the same over time, situation and appearance.

  This happens between the ages of 6-7.

  • Children understand that gender is not changed by appearance or activities.
  • This means that they have gained conservation.
  • They begin to seek out same-sex gender role models and behave in gender typical roles.
• What does pre-operational mean?

  A child's logic lacks internal consistency
• What does conservation mean?

  The ability to understand that despite superficial changes in appearance basic properties of an object stay time
• What does gender constancy mean?

  Gender remains the same over time, situation and appearance
• What is a strength of Kohlberg's theory?

  Based on Piaget's theory of cognitive development

  • Children's thinking becomes more logical with age.
  • Supports that gender understanding develops as thinking matures.
• What is a limitation of Kohlberg's theory?

  May underestimate the role of social influencesMay underestimate the role of social influences

  • Focuses too much on cognitive development and not enough on social factors.
  • Reinforcements from parents or media can shape gender behaviour.
• What is another limitation of Kohlberg's theory?

  Children show gendered behaviour earlier

  • Before the age of 6 children show gendered-typed preference for toys or clothes.
  • Gender constancy needed for gendered behaviour to begin - challenges Kohlberg's timeline.
• What is another strength of Kohlberg's theory?

  Research support

  • Slaby and Frey - found children who reach gender constancy paid more attention to same sex role models.
  • Children only internalise gender roles at the final stage.