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How Gender Schema Theory Affects Kids

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Luna

20/06/2022

Psychology

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

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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 mental frameworks
  • Gender identity acquisition triggers schema development
  • Schemas direct behavior and self-understanding, often based on stereotypes
  • In-group and out-group concepts influence gender-related attitudes
  • Martin and Halverson's research on gender schema in children shows preference for gender-consistent information

Differences between gender schema theory and Kohlberg's theory include timing of schema development and emphasis on cognitive processes.

...

20/06/2022

164

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

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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

View

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.

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How Gender Schema Theory Affects Kids

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Luna

@adhdluna_

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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 mental frameworks
  • Gender identity acquisition triggers schema development
  • Schemas direct behavior and self-understanding, often based on stereotypes
  • In-group and out-group concepts influence gender-related attitudes
  • Martin and Halverson's research on gender schema in children shows preference for gender-consistent information

Differences between gender schema theory and Kohlberg's theory include timing of schema development and emphasis on cognitive processes.

...

20/06/2022

164

 

13

 

Psychology

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

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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 content. It'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 content. It'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.

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Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average app rating

20 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 17 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.