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GENDER SCHEMA THEORY - COGNITIVE EXPLANATION - Coggle Diagram
GENDER SCHEMA THEORY - COGNITIVE EXPLANATION
Schema
Organised clusters of information
A cognitive framework which helps us to organise + interpret information
Gender Schema
Eveything we know in relation to gender + gender appropriate behaviour
Martin et al
- we start acquiring gender relevant information at ages
2-3 (gender identity)
- long before
Kohlberg's idea 'gender constancy' - age of 6
Ages 2-3 - children start to search the environment for information that encourages development of our gender schema
Schema's directs an individuals behaviour + self understanding
For
young children
, schemas are based around stereotypes
E.g. boys play with trucks, girls play with dolls
Framework for a child's understanding of itself - 'I am a boy so I play with trucks'
By 6 they have a fixed idea of what is appropriate for their gender
Resilience of gender beliefs
- children may disregard information that does not fit with their existing schema - e.g. if they were shown an image of a female doctor, they might ignore that and say to the researcher the picture was of a man because that's what they expect men to be doing n
In- Groups
In-groups = groups we identify with - e.g. if you're girl you identify with girls
Positively evaluate out in-group
Provides a template for how we should behave
Want to be part of our in-group
Out-Groups
Out-group = groups that we don't identify with
E.g. if you're a girl you don't identify with boys
They will negatively evaluate our out-group
Want to avoid our out-group
Parents help develop schemas
Toys - girls play with dolls
Clothes - dress boy in blues
How they are treated e.g. fathers rougher with boys will lead to them developing their gender schemas
Reinforced with rewards + punishment
This helps develop a schema + can effect gender development
Martin et al
Study on children under 4 years old
Gender neutral toys
He said 'this is a girls toy would you like to play with it'? - response from boy saying no
He said 'this is a boys toy, would you like to play with it?'
Displayed a strong gender stereotype abut what boys + girls are permitted to do
Supports in-group theory
Martin + Halverson
Studied 4-9 year olds
Ask them to recall photos - some photos would be gender consistent photos - e.g. female nurse
Some would be gender inconsistent - a male nurse
Under the age of 6 = far more likely to recall photos consistent with they gender schemas rather than inconsistent
Shows us that children absorb in-group information more than out-group information
Study to contradict - Einsberg
3-4 year olds displayed typical gender behaviour before the development of their gender schemas
Children justified their choices without reference to gender stereotypes at all
Shows that there must be evolutionary/innate explanation for gender schemas rather than a cognitive one
Reductionist
Ignores the role of biology (genes + hormones)
It ignored prenatal exposure to testosterone + masculinisation of the brain
Focuses on cognitive aspects only - the idea that it emphasises the importance pf parents + peers in the formation + maintenance of schema