10.1.9

Gender Schema Theory

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Martin and Halverson (1981) Gender Schema Theory

The gender schema theory combines the social learning approach with the cognitive development theory. It involves children generating schema using gender stereotypes.

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Martin and Halverson (1981)

  • Two approaches are combined for Martin and Halverson’s (1981) gender schema theory:
    • Social learning.
      • This involves children observing and imitating behaviours of another person (a role model).
    • Cognitive development.
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Cognitive development theory

  • Cognitive development theory was developed by Piaget.
  • It suggests that children develop their thinking skills and cognitive ability through four stages.
  • Piaget also discussed the idea of schema which are mental representations of objects/actions/ideas.
  • For example, children develop schema of birds: two wings, legs, chirp, build nests.
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Gender schema theory

  • The gender schema theory involves children using gender stereotypes to construct their understanding of gender.
  • Stereotyping is how children deem what is appropriate for the two genders.
  • There are two groups: in-group and out-group.
  • The children sort incoming information into these two categories.
  • Children will process incoming information, filter out anything deemed ‘out-group’ and focus in on in-group activities, behaviours, and objects.
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In-group and out-group

  • In-group: anything that fits into the category.
    • For example, when creating an in group for being a boy, the boy would classify the colour blue, toy trucks, toy tools, getting dirty, etc. as being ‘in-group’
  • Out-group: anything that does not fit into the category.
    • For example, the out-group for being a boy would contain: the colour pink, dolls, dresses, tea parties, etc.
  • Children will develop a bias towards the in-group as it matches with their gender.
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Development

  • By using stereotypes, however, this can lead to a limited and narrow range of what they deem ‘in-group’. They can be discriminatory towards out-group activities and objects. For example, boys can say playing with dolls is ‘for girls’.
  • As children age and develop cognitively, they can appreciate that gender is not rigidly defined by narrow in-groups. Boys and girls can partake in and enjoy a range of activities that they may have once deemed ‘out-group’.

Evidence for Gender Schema Theory

There are several studies that provide evidence for this theory.

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Martin and Halverson (1983)

  • Martin and Halverson (1983) discovered evidence to support their theory.
  • They presented boys and girls with drawings of gendered activities.
    • For example, a girl playing with dolls or a boy playing with trucks.
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Martin and Halverson (1983) findings

  • The children were more likely to remember the images when the gender matched the stereotyped activity.
    • For instance, they were less likely to remember an image of a girl sawing wood or a boy playing house.
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Bradbard et al. (1986)

  • Bradbard et al. (1986) also studied children’s memory, this time how it related to gendered toys.
  • They allowed the children to look at sex-specific boxes of toys for 6 minutes.
  • The children were then tested one week later about information regarding the toys.
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Bradbard et al. (1986) findings

  • Their results showed that children were more likely to play with and remember sex-stereotyped toys that corresponded with their gender.
    • For example, a girl was more likely to play with dolls, which suggests they were showing bias towards their in-group gender schema.
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Martin et al (1995)

  • Finally, a study done by Martin et al (1995) found that 4 and 5 year children consistently played with toys that matched their gender.
  • Boys played with boy toys and girls played with girl toys.

Evidence Against Gender Schema Theory

There are two studies that have found evidence against Martin and Halverson’s gender schema.

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Campbell et al (2002)

  • Campbell et al (2002) proposed that gender schema may not be the primary factor in developing gender.
  • They studied children and found that even when a child is aware of their own gender and the stereotypes, it did not affect how much they involved themselves in gender stereotyped behaviours.
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Alexander et al (2009)

  • Another critique was raised by Alexander et al (2009) who stated that the age at which children develop gender schema is actually younger than originally proposed.
  • Alexander and team studied 3 to 9 month old infants.
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Alexander et al (2009) findings

  • They showed the infants a doll and a toy truck.
  • Using eye-tracking technology, the results showed that the boys looked at the truck more than the girls and the girls looked at the doll more than they boys.
  • This indicates that preferences for gender stereotyped toys develops at an earlier age.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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