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How Gender Schema Theory Affects Kids

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Luna

19/08/2025

Psychology

cognitive explanations of gender - gender schema theory - AO1/AO3

167

19 Aug 2025

3 pages

How Gender Schema Theory Affects Kids

Gender schema theory explains how children develop gender-related knowledge and... Show more

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
1 / 3
A
gender schema theory
like Kohlberg's theory, Martin and Halverson's GST is a cognitive-development
theory which argues that children's und

Schema-Directed Behavior and Self-Understanding

Gender schema theory posits that children's schemas expand to include a wide range of behaviors and personality traits as they develop. This process significantly influences their behavior and self-perception.

Example: A child might think, "I am a girl, so I play with dolls," demonstrating how schemas guide both experience and self-understanding.

Key points about schema-directed behavior:

  1. Stereotypical framework: Children's schemas are likely to be formed around stereotypes, such as boys playing with trucks and girls playing with dolls.

  2. Fixed ideas: By age 6, children often have rather fixed and stereotypical ideas about what is appropriate for their gender.

  3. Selective attention: Children may misremember or discount information that does not fit with their existing schema.

  4. In-group focus: Children tend to have a better understanding of schemas appropriate to their own gender, paying more attention to information relevant to their own sex.

Highlight: The development of gender schemas plays a crucial role in shaping children's behavior and self-concept, often reinforcing stereotypical gender roles.

A
gender schema theory
like Kohlberg's theory, Martin and Halverson's GST is a cognitive-development
theory which argues that children's und

Research and Evaluation of Gender Schema Theory

Research has provided support for gender schema theory, while also highlighting some limitations. Key studies and evaluations include:

  1. Martin and Halverson's study (1983):
    • Examined children under 6 years old
    • Found children more likely to remember gender-consistent behavior
    • Children changed the sex of individuals in gender-inconsistent activities during recall

Example: Children might remember a woman washing dishes but change a woman fixing a car to a man in their recollection.

  1. Aubry et al. (1999) longitudinal study:
    • Investigated preferences for gender-related items
    • Found reduced preference for items believed to be for the opposite sex

Highlight: These studies support the idea that children's behavior is shaped by their gender schemas, leading to the rejection of non-gender-appropriate behaviors and toys.

Evaluation points:

  1. Strength: Longitudinal studies support the theory, demonstrating how children's preferences and behaviors align with their developing schemas.

  2. Weakness: Critics argue that the theory overemphasizes individual cognitive processes and doesn't adequately account for social factors like parental influence and rewards/punishments for gendered behavior.

Vocabulary: Longitudinal studies - Research that follows the same subjects over an extended period, allowing for observation of developmental changes.

This evaluation suggests that while gender schema theory provides valuable insights into children's cognitive processes related to gender, it may not fully explain the complex interplay of factors influencing gender development.

A
gender schema theory
like Kohlberg's theory, Martin and Halverson's GST is a cognitive-development
theory which argues that children's und

Gender Schema Theory Overview

Gender schema theory (GST) is a cognitive-developmental approach to understanding how children develop their understanding of gender. This theory shares similarities with Kohlberg's theory but also presents distinct perspectives on gender development.

Definition: Gender schema theory proposes that children actively construct mental frameworks (schemas) about gender as they develop, which guide their behavior and self-understanding.

Key aspects of gender schema theory include:

  1. Active learning: Children actively structure their understanding of gender, rather than passively observing and imitating.

  2. Schema development: Once gender identity is achieved, children begin to search for information to develop their gender schema.

  3. Stereotypical thinking: Children's schemas often form around stereotypes, leading to fixed ideas about gender-appropriate behavior by age 6.

  4. In-group and out-group concepts: Children develop attitudes and expectations about their own gender (in-group) and the other gender (out-group).

Highlight: Gender schema theory emphasizes the role of cognitive processes in gender development, focusing on how children organize and interpret gender-related information.



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Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

 

Psychology

167

19 Aug 2025

3 pages

How Gender Schema Theory Affects Kids

Gender schema theory explains how children develop gender-related knowledge and behaviors. Impact of gender schema theory on child development is significant, shaping their understanding of gender roles and self-identity. Key aspects include:

  • Children actively structure gender learning, developing schemas as... Show more

A
gender schema theory
like Kohlberg's theory, Martin and Halverson's GST is a cognitive-development
theory which argues that children's und

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Schema-Directed Behavior and Self-Understanding

Gender schema theory posits that children's schemas expand to include a wide range of behaviors and personality traits as they develop. This process significantly influences their behavior and self-perception.

Example: A child might think, "I am a girl, so I play with dolls," demonstrating how schemas guide both experience and self-understanding.

Key points about schema-directed behavior:

  1. Stereotypical framework: Children's schemas are likely to be formed around stereotypes, such as boys playing with trucks and girls playing with dolls.

  2. Fixed ideas: By age 6, children often have rather fixed and stereotypical ideas about what is appropriate for their gender.

  3. Selective attention: Children may misremember or discount information that does not fit with their existing schema.

  4. In-group focus: Children tend to have a better understanding of schemas appropriate to their own gender, paying more attention to information relevant to their own sex.

Highlight: The development of gender schemas plays a crucial role in shaping children's behavior and self-concept, often reinforcing stereotypical gender roles.

A
gender schema theory
like Kohlberg's theory, Martin and Halverson's GST is a cognitive-development
theory which argues that children's und

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Research and Evaluation of Gender Schema Theory

Research has provided support for gender schema theory, while also highlighting some limitations. Key studies and evaluations include:

  1. Martin and Halverson's study (1983):
    • Examined children under 6 years old
    • Found children more likely to remember gender-consistent behavior
    • Children changed the sex of individuals in gender-inconsistent activities during recall

Example: Children might remember a woman washing dishes but change a woman fixing a car to a man in their recollection.

  1. Aubry et al. (1999) longitudinal study:
    • Investigated preferences for gender-related items
    • Found reduced preference for items believed to be for the opposite sex

Highlight: These studies support the idea that children's behavior is shaped by their gender schemas, leading to the rejection of non-gender-appropriate behaviors and toys.

Evaluation points:

  1. Strength: Longitudinal studies support the theory, demonstrating how children's preferences and behaviors align with their developing schemas.

  2. Weakness: Critics argue that the theory overemphasizes individual cognitive processes and doesn't adequately account for social factors like parental influence and rewards/punishments for gendered behavior.

Vocabulary: Longitudinal studies - Research that follows the same subjects over an extended period, allowing for observation of developmental changes.

This evaluation suggests that while gender schema theory provides valuable insights into children's cognitive processes related to gender, it may not fully explain the complex interplay of factors influencing gender development.

A
gender schema theory
like Kohlberg's theory, Martin and Halverson's GST is a cognitive-development
theory which argues that children's und

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Gender Schema Theory Overview

Gender schema theory (GST) is a cognitive-developmental approach to understanding how children develop their understanding of gender. This theory shares similarities with Kohlberg's theory but also presents distinct perspectives on gender development.

Definition: Gender schema theory proposes that children actively construct mental frameworks (schemas) about gender as they develop, which guide their behavior and self-understanding.

Key aspects of gender schema theory include:

  1. Active learning: Children actively structure their understanding of gender, rather than passively observing and imitating.

  2. Schema development: Once gender identity is achieved, children begin to search for information to develop their gender schema.

  3. Stereotypical thinking: Children's schemas often form around stereotypes, leading to fixed ideas about gender-appropriate behavior by age 6.

  4. In-group and out-group concepts: Children develop attitudes and expectations about their own gender (in-group) and the other gender (out-group).

Highlight: Gender schema theory emphasizes the role of cognitive processes in gender development, focusing on how children organize and interpret gender-related information.

We thought you’d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.

Where can I download the Knowunity app?

You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user