5 Kohlberg's theory of gender development

TRS Psychology

9 Nov 201803:27

Summary

TLDRThe video discusses Kohlberg's cognitive theory of gender development, emphasizing children's active role in shaping their gender identity through three stages. First, in the gender labeling stage (ages 2-3), children can label themselves and others based on external features, but do not grasp that gender is fixed. Second, in the gender stability stage (ages 3-5), they understand that gender remains stable over time but may think it changes based on activities or appearances. Finally, in the gender consistency stage (ages 6-7), children realize gender is constant across time and situations, influencing their behavior accordingly.

Takeaways

🧠 Cognitive explanations focus on how children actively structure their understanding of gender.
👦 Kohlberg’s theory suggests that gender development occurs in three stages over time.
👶 Stage 1: Gender Labeling (ages 2-3) - Children can label their own gender and others based on external features but do not understand that gender is fixed.
👗 Children in the Gender Labeling stage may change their gender label based on superficial features like hair length or clothing.
🧒 Stage 2: Gender Stability (ages 3-5) - Children understand that gender is stable over time (e.g., boys become men, girls become women), but they may still think gender can change in certain situations.
👧 At the Gender Stability stage, children might believe that engaging in activities of the opposite gender can change their gender.
👨 Stage 3: Gender Consistency/Constancy (ages 6-7) - Children realize that gender is constant across both time and situations.
🔄 Gender Constancy involves understanding that gender remains the same even if external appearances or behaviors change.
🎯 Once children achieve gender constancy, they begin to adopt gender-appropriate behaviors more strongly.
📚 Cognitive theories emphasize that children actively engage in exploring and understanding gender, not just passively observing behaviors.

Q & A

What is the focus of cognitive explanations of gender development?
-Cognitive explanations focus on how children actively structure their own experiences and understanding of gender, rather than passively observing behaviors.
What is Kohlberg's theory of gender development?
-Kohlberg's theory suggests that children's understanding of gender develops over time through exploration of the world and occurs in three stages: gender labeling, gender stability, and gender consistency.
At what age does the gender labeling stage occur and what happens during this stage?
-The gender labeling stage occurs between 2 to 3 years old. During this stage, children are able to label their own sex and the opposite sex based on external features like clothing and hair length. However, they don't yet understand that gender is fixed.
What characterizes the gender stability stage and at what age does it happen?
-The gender stability stage occurs between 3 to 5 years old. Children in this stage understand that gender is stable over time, meaning boys grow into men and girls into women. However, they might still think gender could change if external features or activities change.
How does a child’s understanding of gender change during the gender consistency stage?
-In the gender consistency stage, which occurs around 6 to 7 years old, children understand that gender remains the same across time and situations. They realize that external changes (like clothing or activities) do not change a person's gender.
What is the difference between the gender stability and gender consistency stages?
-In the gender stability stage, children understand that gender is stable over time but may think it can change based on situations or behaviors. In the gender consistency stage, they realize that gender is constant across both time and situations.
Why do children in the gender labeling stage sometimes change their gender labels based on external features?
-Children in the gender labeling stage (2 to 3 years old) base their understanding of gender on external features like clothing or hair length. Since they don’t yet grasp that gender is fixed, they may change their gender labels if those external features change.
What example was given to explain a child's understanding in the gender stability stage?
-An example is a 4-year-old girl who says, 'When I grow up, I'll be like my mummy.' She realizes that her gender will remain stable over time but might not yet understand that it is constant across different situations.
What does it mean when children achieve gender constancy?
-Achieving gender constancy means that children understand that their gender will not change across time and situations. They also start learning and valuing gender-appropriate behaviors because they know their gender is constant.
How does Kohlberg's theory suggest children develop gender-appropriate behavior?
-According to Kohlberg's theory, children start learning gender-appropriate behavior after reaching the gender consistency stage (6 to 7 years old), when they understand that their gender will not change, leading them to adopt behaviors they associate with their gender.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Introduction to Kohlberg's Theory of Gender Development

This paragraph introduces Kohlberg's cognitive explanation of gender development, emphasizing that children actively structure their gender identity through their experiences. Unlike the social learning theory, which views children as passive observers, Kohlberg's theory suggests a more active role. It also outlines the three stages of gender development: gender labeling (ages 2-3), gender stability (ages 3-5), and gender constancy (ages 6-7).

🔖 Gender Labeling Stage (Ages 2-3)

In this stage, children can identify their own sex and the opposite sex, using external features like clothing and hair length as indicators. However, they do not understand that gender is fixed over time, and may change labels if these external features change. An example is given of Allison, who at age two can identify herself as a girl based on her clothing preferences, such as dresses, and identifies boys by short hair.

📈 Gender Stability Stage (Ages 3-5)

During the gender stability stage, children start to understand that gender is stable over time—for example, that boys will grow up to be men and girls will grow up to be women. However, they do not yet grasp that gender remains consistent across different situations. They might think that gender could change if someone engages in activities associated with the opposite sex, such as a girl with short hair being perceived as a boy. An example is given of a four-year-old girl who realizes she will grow up to be a woman.

🔄 Gender Consistency Stage (Ages 6-7)

At the gender consistency stage, children understand that gender remains constant across both time and situations. They acquire what is called 'gender constancy,' and start to learn gender-appropriate behaviors, as they now understand their gender will not change. This stage emphasizes the importance of gender constancy in determining appropriate behaviors for each gender. The paragraph concludes by prompting the viewer to be able to explain cognitive gender theories and the three stages of gender development, along with examples of what children can and cannot do at each stage.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cognitive explanations

Cognitive explanations refer to the idea that gender identity develops through the child's active structuring of experiences, rather than passively observing behaviors. In the context of the video, it highlights how children think and form ideas about gender, which is a core concept in understanding how gender identity is developed according to Kohlberg's theory.

💡Kohlberg's theory

Kohlberg's theory explains the stages of gender development in children, where they gradually understand gender through exploration and cognitive maturation. The video breaks this theory into three distinct stages: gender labeling, gender stability, and gender consistency, illustrating the progression of gender identity over time.

💡Gender labeling

Gender labeling is the first stage of Kohlberg’s theory, occurring at around 2-3 years of age. During this stage, children can identify their own gender and that of others, but their understanding is based on external features like clothing or hair. For example, the script mentions that a child may recognize a girl by her dress but doesn’t yet understand that gender is fixed.

💡Gender stability

Gender stability is the second stage in Kohlberg's theory, happening between 3-5 years old. At this stage, children realize that gender remains the same over time (e.g., boys grow up to be men). However, they still don't understand that gender remains consistent across different situations, such as when someone changes their external appearance.

💡Gender consistency

Gender consistency, also known as gender constancy, is the third stage, occurring around 6-7 years of age. Here, children understand that gender is stable across both time and situations, meaning that even if external appearances change, gender remains constant. This stage marks the full development of gender identity and understanding.

💡Gender constancy

Gender constancy is another term for gender consistency and refers to the child's understanding that gender remains the same despite changes in appearance or behavior. The video mentions that at this stage, children start learning and adhering to gender-appropriate behaviors, as they now realize their gender will not change.

💡Active structuring

Active structuring refers to how children take an active role in forming their understanding of gender by exploring and interacting with their environment. This concept contrasts with more passive theories, where children simply observe others. In the video, it underscores how cognitive theories, like Kohlberg's, emphasize the child's active role in gender development.

💡Social learning theory

Social learning theory suggests that children learn gender roles and behaviors by observing and imitating others, making them more passive in their development of gender identity. The video contrasts this theory with cognitive explanations, highlighting that Kohlberg's theory views children as active participants in their gender identity development.

💡External features

External features, such as clothing or hair length, are how young children identify gender in the gender labeling stage. The video explains that children initially use these visible characteristics to determine someone’s gender, even though they don't yet grasp that these features don’t change a person’s gender.

💡Gender-appropriate behavior

Gender-appropriate behavior refers to actions and activities that are traditionally associated with a particular gender. According to the video, as children reach the gender consistency stage, they begin to learn and adhere to these behaviors, as they understand that their gender identity is fixed and won’t change.

Highlights

Introduction to cognitive explanations of gender development, focusing on Kohlberg's theory.

Cognitive explanations suggest children actively structure their own experiences rather than passively observing behavior.

Kohlberg proposed that gender development occurs in three stages: gender labeling, gender stability, and gender consistency/constancy.

Stage 1: Gender Labeling (2-3 years) – Children are able to label their own and others' gender based on external features but do not understand that gender is fixed.

Example of gender labeling – A child may label a girl based on her dress or hair length but doesn't realize that gender remains constant.

Stage 2: Gender Stability (3-5 years) – Children understand that gender is stable over time (boys become men, girls become women), but they don't yet grasp that it remains consistent across situations.

Example of gender stability – A girl understands she will grow up to be a woman but may still think a boy can turn into a girl if he engages in 'female' activities.

Stage 3: Gender Consistency/Constancy (6-7 years) – Children recognize that gender is consistent across both time and situations, and they begin to internalize gender-appropriate behaviors.

Example of gender consistency – A child now realizes that a boy who dresses like a girl or performs feminine activities is still a boy.

Kohlberg's theory emphasizes that gender identity is actively constructed through exploration and interaction with the world.

Key distinction from social learning theory – Unlike the passive view of social learning theory, Kohlberg's cognitive theory presents children as active participants in their gender development.

Gender constancy is the final stage where children understand that gender will not change regardless of external appearances or actions.

Gender constancy stage marks a critical shift towards understanding gender-appropriate behaviors, leading children to adopt roles based on their gender identity.

Gender stability and consistency stages mark an important developmental milestone where children start comprehending the long-term and situational aspects of gender.

Children develop gender constancy around 6-7 years, learning that their gender identity is stable and unchangeable across different contexts.