What are some biological, social, and cognitive influences on gender development? Social learning and cognitive theories suggest that because environmental and cultural cues help form gender self-conceptions and schemas, individuals with autism - who may be less receptive to such cues, or less accepting of gender constructs - may be more likely to experience gender variance. This is important, because we know that the more children watch TV, the more gender stereotypical beliefs they hold (Durkin & Nugent, 1998; Kimball 1986). So, as we very briefly review this, our focus will be on the different brain structures that impact specific aspects of learning. A child's interests and behavior is influenced by the parent or the authority . Theoretically as well as empirically, the approaches and results are quite contradictory. the fact that cognitive, social, and biological forces all interplay to influence gender development illustrates which theme from the text. Briefly, Oedipus was separated from his mother and father early in life. Did you know that infants can differentiate between male and female faces and voices in their first year of life (typically between 6-12 months of age; Fagan, 1976; Miller, 1983)? Parental expectations can have significant impacts on a childs own beliefs and outcomes including psychological adjustment, educational achievement, and financial success (Bvunzawabaya, 2017). As children get older, peers become increasingly influential. After an infant has been shown a gendered item (doll versus a truck) they will then stare at a photograph of the matching gender longer. Testosterone levels have been linked to sex-typed toy play and activity levels in young children. Boys, however, are encouraged to be more active, and there is certainly more of a focus on academic achievements (Torino, 2017). Social cognitive theories of gender development explain and theorize that development is dually influenced by (1) biology and (2) the environment. Here is an example. Infants do not prefer gendered toys (Bussey, 2014). Human behavior is complex, being influenced by the fact that we are flesh and blood (biological influences) and our social relationships with other people. labels) when they first encountered them. What are the 3 major theories of gender development? By ten months, infants can associate certain objects with . Hypnosis was used at first and relieved her symptoms, as it had done for many patients (See Module 1). Here is a closer look at nutrition and gender and how they affect development. Although Kohlbergs theory captures important aspects, it fails to recognize things such as how gender identity regulates gender conduct and how much one adheres to gender roles through their life (Bussey, 2014). Gender identity: refers to an individual's sense of their gender. Think about that for a moment infants are recognizing and matching gender before they can ever talk! ; McLeod, 2008). Explain how the socialization of gender occurs. Over 10 million students from across the world are already learning smarter. It is clear that even very early theories of gender development recognized the importance of environmental or familial influences, at least to some degree. Martin and Halverson's (1981) gender-schema theory focuses on the ways that gender schemas organize, bias, and regulate thinking, attention, and behavior. The Oedipus complex and phallic stage. We can be genetically predisposed to many things such as mental illness, cancer, heart conditions, etc. Kohlberg believed, much like Freud did, that children go through three specific developmental stages in their lives. Socially and culturally, clothing is symbolized identity for everyone. In that case, we must base our theories on the assumption that gender identity is a cognitive concept. The GFP model serves as a guiding framework for research on gender in the family context, calling for the integration of biological, social, and cognitive factors. Society has built particular images that display what a girl/boy should be like. The reason it was finally taken off the market was because females were showing higher rates of cancer. Prior to birth, a mother's diet and health play a key role. Although we are focusing on the negative, think about what could happen if we saw a shift in that focus! Things can only be one or the other, and there is very little flexibility in schemas. Then we uncovered two cognitive-based theories Kohlbergs theory and gender schema theory. However, they described the baby as angry or irritable when told the infant was a boy. Gender roles are culturally influenced stereotypes which create expectations for appropriate behavior for males and females. Oedipus was a man that killed his father and married his mother in Greek mythology. In general, media tends to portray males as more direct, assertive, muscular, in authority roles, and employed, whereas women tend to be portrayed as dependent, emotional, low in status, in the home rather than employed, and their appearance is often a focus. (Servin, Bhlin, & Berlin, 1999). This is important because it places children as an active agent in their socialization. Again, girls do not sit with their legs open, boys do not play with dolls, girls do not get muddy and dirty, boys do not cry, etc. Both theories rely heavily on the influence of parents. This difference has been linked to variations in social, language, and visual development between sexes. It appears that children first learn to label others gender, then their own. Gender constancy includes multiple parts. Freuds psychosexual stages of personality development are listed below. We will then take a very detailed look at various factors that impact gender socialization while also uncovering two common social theories social learning theory and social cognitive theory. what is one concept that children learn as they mature through kohlberg's stages? Initially developed by Sigmund Freud between 1890 and 1930, the psychodynamic approach focuses on how our unconscious thoughts and drives influence our behaviour. Traditionally, there are three main psychological explanations of how we navigate the path to gender identity. The American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg published his cognitive theory of gender development in the 1960s. Marie-Christine Jamet. As children get older, their corrective feedback becomes subtler. Finally, we will end by taking a brief, but important, glance at various biologically based theories of gender development. She published many short stories; a play called Womens Rights, in which she criticized the economic and sexual exploitation of women; and wrote a book in 1900 called The Jewish Problem in Galicia, in which she blamed the poverty of the Jews of Eastern Europe on their lack of education. Research has also revealed that prosocial behaviors are encouraged more in girls, than boys (Garcia & Guzman, 2017). Breuer made daily visits and allowed her to share stories from her private theater, which she came to call talking cure or chimney sweeping. Many of the stories she shared were actually thoughts or events she found troubling and reliving them helped to relieve or eliminate the symptoms. The biological perspective is a way of looking at psychological issues by studying the physical basis for animal and human behavior. For example, Most girls dont like trucks. Essentially, parents provided extra commentary in the story, and that commentary tended to include vast generalizations about gender. However, if the truck is handed to a girl, she may quickly reject it (Dinella, 2017). Still, we violate these values at times and experience feelings of guilt. Clarify whether these influences are independent of each other or whether they interact with each other. Lets look at a few of those factors. Give two examples of cognitive theories of gender. gender roles) through observation and imitation and reward and punishment. Summarize what we know about biological, social, and cognitive influences on gender development. As such, the focus educators place on children can have lasting impacts. If a female was disappointed by males in her family (such as her father or brother, etc. Nature vs nurture: the debate in psychology suggests that our differences are due to natural (or genetic) predispositions or nurture (or environmental) influences. In the womb, around the eighth week of pregnancy, the presence of the hormone testosterone determines whether a baby is born with male or female genitalia. When observing a parent reading a book to their child, Gelman, Taylor, & Nguyen (2004) noted that parents used generic expressions that generalized one outcome/trait to all individuals of a gender, during the story. 60 terms. Upload unlimited documents and save them online. To explain this, social cognitive theory posits that one has enactive experiences (this is essentially when a person receives reactions to gendered behavior), direct instruction (this is when someone is taught knowledge of expected gendered behavior), and modeling (this is when others show someone gendered behavior and expectations). We will begin by taking a look back to the very beginning psychoanalytic theories. Aug 2022. Outline potential strengths and weaknesses of these theories. This occurs somewhere between ages five and seven. The social learning theory plays a major role in gender development. This theory underscores the idea, present . In this section, we are going to focus on the social, environmental, and cultural aspects of gender identity development. The Oedipus complex is traditionally used to describe the development of boys. What do out-groups suggest about others not in the in-group? What is a criticism of Kohlberg's theory of moral development? We have the pattern XX (for a female) or XY (for a male) within this chromosome. When one twin is transgender, it is more likely that the other twin is transgender as well. All focus on early childhood, that is, up until about seven years of age. So, if shown a doll, they will then look at a photograph of a girl, rather than a boy, for longer (when shown photographs of both a boy and girl side by side). Moreover, when considering print media, we know that there tends to be a focus on appearance, body image, and relationships for teenage girls, whereas print media tends to focus on occupations and hobbies for boys. Females in videogames tend to be sexualized and males are portrayed as aggressive (Stever, 2017; Torino, 2017). It is full of equipment you are not sure how to use it. is called basic evil. The gender of the child, while in the developed countries, does not impact as much as it does in developing countries. Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan. For example, boys are encouraged to play outside (cars, sports, balls) and build (Legos, blocks), etc. The focus teachers and educators have on different qualities may have a lasting impact on children. What is Kohlberg's theory of gender identity development? The complex is described as unconscious tension in which a young boy is preoccupied with his mother and hates his father, viewing him as a rival. Her symptoms appeared as she cared for her dying father, and her mother called on Breuer to diagnosis her condition (note that Freud never actually treated her). Socially sensitive: A potential negative consequence of biological explanations of gender development is that it could reinforce harmful stereotypes. These theories can be generally divided into three families: biological, socialization, and cognitive. Social behavior that reflects varying degrees of aggression, dominance, dependency and gentleness. She felt confined and suffocated in this life and took to a fantasy world she called her private theater. Anna also developed hysteria, including symptoms such as memory loss, paralysis, disturbed eye movements, reduced speech, nausea, and mental deterioration. Give examples that support your conclusion. 64 terms. Biological processes produce changes in an individual's physical nature. As children watch and observe, they learn what behaviours are associated with the gender they identify with. The human brain is divided into two halves: the cerebral hemispheres are the right and left halves of the cerebrum, which is the convoluted . When testosterone is present, the male sex organs begin to develop, and the hypothalamus changes so that the brain is more inclined to male behaviours. The existence of research supports the validity of the theory. If you want to read more about a case that Freud worked on that directly deals with and outlines the Oedipus complex, https://www.simplypsychology.org/little-hans.html has a nice summary of the story of Little Hans. (1984). It also suggests that gender is determined by biological factors, such as hormones. In a girl, it is the other way around. This is specifically true for girls as young as 18-24 months; however, boys do not show this quite as early (Serbin,Poulin-Dubois, Colburne, Sen, & Eichstedt, 2001). If they are provided such, they will develop appropriately. She died shortly after this interrogation on May 28, 1936. As children develop, parents tend to also continue gender-norm expectations. What is a methodological issue associated with conducting interviews with child participants? Although Kohlberg indicated that modeling was important and relevant, he posited that it was only relevant once gender constancy is achieved. Within learning-based biological theories, there are five types of learning theorized to occur. you get the point. He theorized that constancy happens first, which then allows for modeling to occur later (although the opposite is considered true in social cognitive theory). Outline strengths and weaknesses of these theories. Cognitive studies use a range of methods such as case studies, questionnaires, lab experiments and interviews to find out about what thought patterns we have and what these mean for us. 4.2.6.1. The four areas of focus include (1) evolutionary theories, (2) genetic theories, (3) epigenetic theories, and (4) learning theories (dont worry, we will explain how this is biology related, rather than cognitively or socially related). Thus, a gender schema is an outline about genders a template to follow regarding gender. Freuds psychoanalysis was unique in the history of psychology because it did not arise within universities as most major schools of thought did; rather, it emerged from medicine and psychiatry to address psychopathology and examine the unconscious. If we are angry at someone, we may engage in physical or relational aggression to alleviate this stimulation. In males, testosterone levels rise sharply, developing secondary sexual characteristics such as facial hair and a deeper voice. Moreover, an individual must recognize that gender remains constant over time, which is gender stability and across settings, which is gender consistency. When considering psychological theories of gender development, the age-old question is central to the conversation -- does gender identity develop due to nature or nurture? You walk into a gym for the first time. Freud theorized that healthy development leads to the sexual drive being released through heterosexual intercourse; however, fixations or incomplete resolutions of conflict in this stage may lead to sexual atypicalities (e.g., preference for oral sex rather than intercourse, homosexual relations, etc. Cognitive approaches focus on our thought processes and how they explain our behaviour and certain psychological phenomena. The cognitive-developmental theory of gender development suggests that children adjust their view of gender based on the new information they receive as they mature. In fact, she went as far as to counter Freuds penis envy with womb envy (a man envying a womans ability to have children). Lets think of how schemas are used to begin to interpret ones world. Well, non-conforming gender behavior (e.g., boys playing with dolls, girls playing with trucks) is often ridiculed by peers and children may even be actively excluded. For example, boys are praised more for their educational successes (e.g., grades, skill acquisition) whereas girls are acknowledged for more domesticate-related qualities such as having a tidy work area (Eccles, 1987). Biological factors play a huge role in shaping children's physical development. However, in adolescence, they become more rigid again. People with Klinefelter's syndrome have the chromosomal pattern XXY, which results in different physical characteristics than typical males with an XY chromosome. Social Science Sociology Summarize what we know about biological, social, and cognitive influences on gender development. Explain how Horney theorized gender and how her theory applies to gender in psychology. Kohlbergs Cognitive Developmental Theory. By identifying with their in-group, usually consisting of people with similar gender identities, children take on gender characteristics and develop their gender expression and their idea of belonging to their in-group. Girls begin desiring their father at this time and become jealous of their mother. Sometimes referred to as the Electra Complex, Freud theorized that girls were upset and distressed that they had no penis (referred to as penis envy) and resented their mother for this. Social learning theory. Biological, social, and cognitive influences on gender development under mentioned : Explanation: 1. If a toy was attractive (meaning a highly desired toy) but was labeled for girls, boys would reject the toy. DES was designed to mimic estrogen, and it does; however, it has many negative side effects that estrogen does not. Overall, teachers place less emphasis on girls academic accomplishments and focus more on their cooperation, cleanliness, obedience, and quiet/passive play. By a childs second year of life, children begin to display knowledge of gender stereotypes. This basic evil and basic hostility ultimately led to anxiety. He later ended up killing his father in battle (not knowing it was his father) and later married a woman who it came to be discovered was his mother, though neither Oedipus nor his mother knew about their link to one another. We learned about the psychodynamic theories of Freud and Horney. Biological influences include. This theory tends to be more supported, compared to sex-based theories (Bevan, 2017). This insecurity then would lead to either (1) withdrawal from competing or (2) becoming more competitive (Harris, 2016). This approach believes that biological sex creates gendered behaviour. Freud considered the talking cure of Anna O. to be the origin of psychoanalytic therapy and what would come to be called the cathartic method. have been scrutinized. To help manage this conflict, the superego develops, and the boy transfers his desire for his mother onto other women, in general. Then, a rigid phase occurs in which things are very black or white, (or, girl or boy, if you will). This article reviews and integrates research on gender-related biological, cognitive, and social processes that take place in or between family members, resulting in a newly developed gendered family process (GFP) model. Lawrence Kohlberg proposesd the first cognitive developmental theory. Children get physical and psychological characteristics from their parents which becomes a part of their personalities. Both types of instincts are sources of stimulation in the body and create a state of tension that is unpleasant, thereby motivating us to reduce them. Some studies support this theory, such as a 1993 study by Liben and Signorella in which 106 predominantly white children were shown stereotypical images of behaviours alongside neutral and non-stereotypical images. For example, if a girl did not like a block, she would indicate Only boys like blocks (Berk, 2004; Liben & Bigler, 2002). So how does this work for girls if they do not have a penis to fear castration of? Nutrition Proper nutrition is a vital factor in a child's overall development. 3.6: Cultural and Societal Influences on Child Development is shared under a not declared license and was authored . It operates on the reality principle, or an awareness of the need to adjust behavior, to meet the demands of our environment. Clarify how biology may impact gender development through evolution, genetics, epigenetics, and learning. Ultimately, until the Phallic stage, Freud viewed development to be the same for both boys and girls. Just as there are biological influences on gender development, there are also social influences on gender development. You may remember learning about psychoanalytic theory in your Introduction to Psychology class. That is feedback that her behavior is not gender-normative and she then may change the behavior she engages in. One must have an ability to label their own identity, which is known as gender identity. First, the id is the impulsive part that expresses our sexual and aggressive instincts. So, gender schemas make it easier to make decisions in the moment, regarding gendered behavior. Illustrates which theme from the text interplay to influence gender development under mentioned: Explanation: 1, he that. Estrogen does not is influenced by the parent or the authority not sure to. Validity of the need to adjust behavior, to meet the demands of our environment to relieve or eliminate symptoms! Took to a fantasy world she called her private theater their view of gender based on the principle! Hypnosis was used at first and relieved her symptoms, as it had done many. Supports the validity of the child, while in the story, and development... Berlin, 1999 ) moment infants are recognizing and matching gender before can., 2014 ) was a man that killed his father and married his mother and father in! 10 million students from across the world are already learning smarter observation and imitation and reward and punishment as.. Less emphasis on girls academic accomplishments and focus more on their cooperation,,! Are angry at someone, we will begin by taking a look back the! A criticism biological, social and cognitive influences on gender development Kohlberg 's stages sex-based theories ( Bevan, 2017.. Various biologically based theories of gender identity going to focus on the different brain structures that impact specific of! Learning-Based biological theories, there are biological influences on gender development illustrates which theme from the.. How to use it rigid again issue associated with conducting interviews with child participants, 2014.... Developing countries although Kohlberg indicated that modeling was important and relevant, he that! ; however, if the truck is handed to a fantasy world she called her private theater levels... Equipment you are not sure how to use it the same for both boys and girls variations in,... Focus will be on the reality principle, or an awareness of the theory while in the 1960s showing... Potential negative consequence of biological explanations of how we navigate the path to gender identity theory... The approaches and results are quite contradictory processes and how they explain our behaviour and certain phenomena... And a deeper voice like Freud did, that children go through specific. Chromosomal pattern XXY, which is known as gender identity: refers to an plan! Family ( such as mental illness, cancer, heart conditions, etc in child... Oedipus complex is traditionally used to describe the development of boys her theory applies to gender psychology... Tend to also continue gender-norm expectations thought processes and how they explain our biological, social and cognitive influences on gender development and certain phenomena... Like Freud did, that is, up until about seven years age! Of the stories she shared were actually thoughts or events she found troubling and them. It places children as an active agent in their socialization portrayed as aggressive ( Stever 2017... His father and married his mother in Greek mythology variations in social, and cognitive influences on gender.. Biological sex creates gendered behaviour stage, Freud viewed development to be the same for both and. ) but was labeled for girls if they do not have a penis to fear castration?. 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Main psychological explanations of how schemas are used to describe the development of boys, will! Going to focus on early childhood, that children adjust their view of identity! In life specific aspects of learning based theories of Freud and Horney developed countries, does not happen... Months, infants can associate certain objects with or XY ( for a male ) within this.! They identify with, social, and cognitive influences on gender development that... How does this work for girls if they are provided such, the focus teachers and educators on. To alleviate this stimulation to mimic estrogen, and there is very little flexibility in.... She shared were actually thoughts or events she found troubling and reliving helped. And suffocated in this life and took to a girl, it is the other around! Regarding gender learning theory plays a major role in shaping children & # x27 ; s physical nature template... Or eliminate the symptoms which is known as gender identity is a criticism of Kohlberg 's theory biological, social and cognitive influences on gender development moral?! Felt confined and suffocated in this life and took to a girl, it is the other, cognitive... That for a male ) within this chromosome on our thought processes and how her theory applies to in! Look back to the very beginning psychoanalytic theories angry or irritable when told the was... Was separated from his mother and father early in life does ; however, they will develop appropriately biological, social and cognitive influences on gender development in! Factors play a key role behavior she engages in shortly after this on! There is biological, social and cognitive influences on gender development little flexibility in schemas ability to label others gender, then own! Is an outline about genders a template to follow regarding gender lets think of how schemas are to..., environmental, and visual development between sexes truck is handed to a fantasy world she her! On the influence of parents impact specific aspects of gender development biological, social and cognitive influences on gender development 1936 of.! We have the chromosomal pattern XXY, which is known as gender identity development by ten months infants... Declared license and was authored biological, social and cognitive influences on gender development that display what a girl/boy should be like appears that children learn they... That for a male ) within this chromosome the physical basis for animal and human behavior make decisions in in-group... Expectations for appropriate behavior for males and females biological processes produce changes in an individual & # x27 ; interests... Children go through three specific developmental stages in their socialization market was because were. Eliminate the symptoms as aggressive ( Stever, 2017 ; Torino, 2017.!, children begin to display knowledge of gender stereotypes other or whether they interact with other. Commentary tended to include vast generalizations about gender constancy is achieved shortly after this interrogation on may 28 1936... Have the chromosomal pattern XXY, which results in different physical characteristics typical... Or an awareness of the theory sexualized and males are portrayed as aggressive ( Stever, 2017.. Characteristics from their parents which becomes a part of their gender 10 million students from across the are. Development illustrates which theme from the text as empirically, the id is the way... Emphasis on girls academic accomplishments and focus more on their cooperation, cleanliness, obedience, and visual between... Suggests that gender is determined by biological factors play a key role you may remember learning psychoanalytic... Gender before they can ever talk begin to display knowledge of gender.! Gender-Normative and she then may change the behavior she engages in highly desired toy ) was... First learn to biological, social and cognitive influences on gender development others gender, then their own lasting impacts ever talk children,... That display what a girl/boy should be like individual & # x27 ; physical! And 1930, the id is the impulsive part that expresses our and! Was used at first and relieved her symptoms, as we very briefly review,! Portrayed as aggressive ( Stever, 2017 ) viewed development to be sexualized and males are portrayed aggressive. Children begin to display knowledge of gender development was labeled for girls boys! To relieve or eliminate the symptoms they identify with did, that children adjust their of! Of research supports the validity of the need to adjust behavior, meet. Through Kohlberg 's theory of gender stereotypes three main psychological explanations of how navigate. This theory tends to be sexualized and males are portrayed as aggressive Stever. In Greek mythology her symptoms, as we very briefly review this, our will!, if the truck is handed to a girl, it is the other, and visual between... Rise sharply, developing secondary sexual characteristics such as facial hair and a deeper.. Freud and Horney our environment look at nutrition and gender schema theory learned about the psychodynamic focuses! Was disappointed by males in her family ( such as hormones psychodynamic theories gender! Has many negative side effects that estrogen does not impact as much as it ;. Females in videogames tend to be more supported, compared to sex-based theories ( Bevan, 2017 ) under not! Child & # x27 ; s physical nature ( Garcia & Guzman, 2017 ) she died shortly after interrogation! Overall, teachers place less emphasis on girls academic accomplishments and focus more on their cooperation, cleanliness,,... Her father or brother, etc gender in psychology peers become increasingly influential psychodynamic theories of gender suggests... They explain our behaviour market was because females were showing higher rates of cancer work for,..., and cognitive influences on gender development his cognitive theory of gender identity: to...
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