Social learning theory

• The social learning theory acknowledges the role that the social context plays in the development and behaviour is learned through observing others

  Therefore, gender development is learned, and this is because of the influence of the environment
• reinforcement

  can be direct or indirect

  If the consequences of another persons behaviour is favourable, behaviour is more likely to be imitated by a child

  boys and girls are encouraged to show distinct gender appropriate behaviour, this is called differential reinforcement, this is how the child learns their gender identity
• Identification and modelling

  Identification is the process where a child attaches themselves to a person they want to be, this is a role model

  usually the same gender and the child tends to model and imitate their behaviour
• Mediational processes

  Attention - noticing stereotypical behaviour

  retention - remembering this behaviour

  Motor reproduction - ability to perform behaviour

  motivation - will to perform behaviour
• A strength is the supporting research

  babies were dressed in stereotypically girls and boys clothes, and then they interacted with an adult

  When dressed as boys, the play was more active, toys offered more action based and encourage spatial awareness

  When dressed as girls play with more passive toys and more cuddly and soft and encouraged, nurturing behaviour
• differential reinforcement may not be the cause of gender differences in behaviour

  Adults during interactions with the children may simply be responding to innate gender differences that are already there

  For example, the observation that boys are encouraged to be more active during play may be a consequence of the fact they are naturally more active anyway due to hormonal differences
• A limitation is, it doesn’t consider how gender development changes with age

  It states that modelling can occur at any age however, it is unlikely that children who are 2 learn in the same way as a child who is 9

  The influence of age and maturation on learning gender concepts isn’t a factor, considered by the social learning theory, and therefore isn’t a full exclamation
• The social learning theory can explain, cultural changes in stereotypical gender appropriate behaviour

  There is less of a clear-cut distinction between what people regard as stereotypically, masculine or feminine in societies today

  As there’s been no significant change in peoples basic biology, the shift in stereotypes is better explained by the SLT

  The shift in social expectations and cultural norms over the years has meant new forms of gender behaviour have arisen