Cognitive Development
Theory
Sophie, Samira, Emma, Gabriella, Kirsty, Fabiha
The Theory
Kohlberg’s stages of gender development
•
Children understand the concepts of male and female in
three stages, the children have to develop the concepts
in a set order:
•
1) Gender Identity (2-3): Child recognises that they’re
male or female, but the knowledge is fragile. They don’t
understand that boys grow into men and vice versa.
•
2) Gender Stability(3-7): The child realises people
retain their gender over a lifetime, but rely on
superficial signs to determine Gender, e.g. Hair length
•
3) Gender Consistency (7-12): Child realises Gender
is permanent, even if someone doesn’t conform to the
stereotypical physical appearance (e.g. men with long
hair). When they achieve Gender Consistency they value
the behaviours and attitudes associated with their
gender, and identify with adults who possess them.
•
The theory says that children's thinking
about gender determines when and how
they show gender role behaviour (due to
their cognition).
•
Once children acquire Gender Consistency
they collect information about their
gender role. For example, imitating role
models of the same sex and following
gender appropriate activities.
•
This is called self-socialisation as it
doesn’t depend on other people such as
parents, but what the child thinks
themselves.
Research Evidence
•
Martin and Little (1990)
The 3-5 year olds studied had very little
understanding of gender and yet still had strong
gender stereotypes. They understood gender
appropriate behaviour/ what girls and boys were
“supposed” to do. This demonstrated that only basic
gender understanding is needed to affect a child’s
gender behaviour.
•
Slaby and Frey’s (1975)
Children were tested to determine if they had
achieved gender identity by being asked if they are
a boy or a girl. They were shown a picture of a
boy/girl and were told to choose which one they
were. Gender stability involved questioning them
on if they have and will always be a boy/girl. 3 year
olds didn't understand any of the concepts, 4 year
olds understood gender identity and by 5 years old,
children understood all three concepts. The study
found that children do go through the three stages
Kolberg set.
Quiz
1. What are the three stages to Kohlberg’s theory of gender development?
2. What does the child recognise in the first stage of gender development?
3. Fill in the gaps for this sentence related to the first stage of gender development:
The child may _______ realise that little boys grow into ______, and that little
_________ grow up into women.
4. Give an example of a superficial sign that children rely on in the second stage of
their gender development, which they use to determine gender.
5. What do children realise in the last stage of their gender development, even if the
person’s physical appearance changes?
6. Who do children identify with in the last stage of their gender development?
7. How old are children in the last stage of their gender development?
8. Fill in the gaps for this sentence related to gender development:
The theory says that children are _____________ ______________ in their own gender
role _____________________ - this means that they’re thinking that their gender
_______________ when and how they show gender ________ behaviour.
9. What is it called when children have completed the three stages of gender
development, and so they collect information about their gender role, imitate same
sex models and follow gender appropriate activities?
10. What age group did Martin and Little study?
11. What did Martin and Little find?
12. How did Slaby and Frey carry out their study?
13. What were the results of Slaby and Fry’s study
14. What did Slaby and Fry find out about 3, 4 and 5 years old?
Quiz answers
1. Gender identity
Gender stability
Gender consistency
2. That they are male or female
3. The child may not realise that little boys grow into men, and that little
girls grow up into women
4. Hair length
5. That gender is permanent
6. Adults who possess the behaviours and attitudes associated with their
gender
7. 7-12 years old
8. The theory says that children are active agents in their own gender role
socialisation- this means that they’re thinking that gender determines
when and how they show gender role behaviour
9. Self-socialisation
10. 3-5 years old
11. They found that they had very basic understanding of gender
yet they had strong gender stereotypes about what girls and boys
were supposed to do and had basic gender understanding is
needed to affect the child’s gender behaviour.
12. They carried out a study by observing and questioning
children by showing a picture of a girl and a boy and asking
“which one are you?” (measures gender identity) and asking
“when you grow up will you be a mummy or a daddy?” to
measure consistency.
13. they found that children do go though the three staged in the
set order that Kohlberg said.
14.
3 years olds didn’t understand any of the concepts.
4 years olds understood gender identity.
By 5 children understood all three concepts.