Cognitive explanations: Kohlberg's Theory

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What is Kohlberg's theory? (A01)
Based on the idea that a child's understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated with age. Runs parallel to intellectual development. Transitioning stages: gradual
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What is stage 1?
GENDER IDENTITY: Age 2: Child recognises that they are a boy or girl and possesses the ability to label others as such (not aware sex is permanent)
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What is stage 2?
GENDER STABILITY: Age 4: Child understands that their own gender is fixed and they will be male or female when they are older. Often confused by external changes in appearance
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What is stage 3?
GENDER CONSTANCY: Age 6/7: Child realises that gender is consistent over time and situations; they begin to identify with people of their own gender and start to behave in gender-appropriate ways
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What is significant about imitation of role models?
Gender constancy: seek out gender-appropriate role models to identify with and imitate. Connects closely with ideas in social learning theory.
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What did Kohlberg believe?
Once the child has a fully developed and internalised concept of gender at the constancy age, they embark upon an active search for evidence which confirms the concept
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STRENGTH (A03) : Evidence supports the sequence
Ronald Slaby and Karin Frey (1975): children were presented with split-screen images of males and females performing the same tasks
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What was found?
Younger children spent roughly the same amount of time watching both sexes. Children in the gender constancy stage spent longer looking at the model who was the same sex as them
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What does this suggest?
Koglberg was correct in his assumption that children who have acquired constancy will actively seek gender-appropriate models
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What cross-cultural evidence is there?
Robert Munroe et al. (1984) found cross-cultural evidence of Kohlberg's theory in countries as far afield as Kenya, Samoa and Nepal. This suggests that the sequence of stages Kohlberg put forward may be universal
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WEAKNESS (A03) : Constancy not supported
Undermined by the observation that many children begin to demonstrate gender-appropriate behaviour before gender constancy is achieved
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What evidence doesn't support it?
Kay Bussey and Albert Bandura (1992) found that children as young as 4 reported 'feeling good' about playing with gender appropriate toys and 'bad' about doing the opposite.
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WEAKNESS (A03) : METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES
Theory developed using interviews with children who were as young as 2 or 3. Although the questions asked were tailored towards the particular age group he was dealing with- not acknowledged young children lack vocab required to express understanding
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For example?
Such children may have relatively complex ideas about gender but do not possess the verbal ability to articulate these
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is stage 1?

Back

GENDER IDENTITY: Age 2: Child recognises that they are a boy or girl and possesses the ability to label others as such (not aware sex is permanent)

Card 3

Front

What is stage 2?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is stage 3?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is significant about imitation of role models?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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