Social learning theory of gender

• social learning theory

  all behaviour is learned from observing and imitating others

  draws attention to the influence of the environment in shaping gender development
• direct reinforcement

  children more likely to be reinforced for demonstrating behaviour that is gender appropriate

  e.g little girl wearing a dress- you look so cute in your pink dress

  e.g boy encourages to be active and more likely to be punished for being passive and gentle

  children learn their gender identity from differential reinforcement
• indirect/ vicarious reinforcement

  consequences for another persons behaviour are wanted- e.g little girl sees mother receive complement for wearing lipstick she will try and replicate this

  consequences for behaviour are not wanted therefore you won't carry this out e.g boy sees male classmate teased for displaying feminine behaviour e.g wearing a pink t-shirt they are less likely to do this
• identification

  role models- parents siblings teachers but also media role models

  gender increases someone to be seen as a role model
• modelling

  mother may model streotypically feminine behaviour when tidying the house or cooking dinner a daughter would watch and learn
• meditational process

  attention

  retention

  motivation

  reproduction
• influence of parents

  parents give children different toys depending on gender, decorate rooms differently

  a child would gradually take on their parents gender schema
• influence of peers

  peers act as role models

  children are more likely to imitate same sex role models

  children display preferences for same-gender playmates and have same-gender groups especially when young

  more intolerant of cross-gender behaviour e.g boys playing with girls
• influence of media

  tv, magazines, social media all influence gender roles

  males rep in tv programmes in higher status roles, powerful characters

  girls- princesses- domesticated, pretty dresses, prince to save etc

  pop groups- female singers, male musicians
• culture on gender roles

  if gender was biological construct different cultural experiences wouldn't influence gender

  if cultural influences result In different gender roles it suggests gender is socially constructed
• weakness

  doesn't explain gender differences in same sex siblings

  two brother may be raised the same but one be more masculine

  not developmental theory- implication is can occur at any age

  not holistic- doesn't look at genes, hormones may affect gender
• strengths-

  Mead- tribal study difference sin gender therefore social construct

  nature/ nurture

  nurture side of the debate cross cultural similarities in gender roles