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AP PSYCH 6.7 Gender and Sexual Orientation

  • Gender roles are expected behaviors for males and females based on culture

  • Gender stereotypes are a schema children develop about the behavior of people based on their gender

Gender Schema Theory

  • Proposed in 1981

  • Children actively form mental categories (schemas) for masculinity and femininity

  • They also recognize their own role and choose activities that match that role

  • Children recognize and then align themselves with the norms of the culture

  • Children may meet disapproval if they do not conform to gender norms, or feel pressure to fit into what they are told to

  • More than just observational learning, but operant understandings as well

  • Gender roles are expected behaviors for males and females based on culture

  • Gender stereotypes are a schema children develop about the behavior of people based on their gender

Gender Schema Theory

  • Proposed in 1981

  • Children actively form mental categories (schemas) for masculinity and femininity

  • They also recognize their own role and choose activities that match that role

  • Children recognize and then align themselves with the norms of the culture

  • Children may meet disapproval if they do not conform to gender norms, or feel pressure to fit into what they are told to

  • More than just observational learning, but operant understandings as well