Evan Loehle Conger M A PSYC 307 100 Fall 2015 TODAY Gender development starting to understand their gender Terms Clarified SEX vs GENDER differences Sex differences Biological differences between males and females in organs hormones and body shape Gender differences Social dimension Differences in the roles and behaviors that are prescribed by a culture for males and females Gender Identity how one psychologically perceives oneself as either male or female or other Just for Clarity Gender Sex Orientation Often doesn t entirely even overlap with presentation Gender development http www youtube com watch v VqsbvG40Ww 3 minutes ideas about boy or girl https www youtube com watch v X jJQBjWYDTs Changes in ideas about boy or girl Gender Role Standards and Stereotypes Young children are especially rigid in gender stereotyping children between ages 3 6 are more gender stereotypes than adults This reflects a general tendency for young children to have rigid absolutist sense of rules They are absolutist about MOST things Gender Religious rules roles expectations Chores House Rules What fictional characters can can t would wouldn t do Opinions on others Gender What are your stereotypes of male and females Gender What are your stereotypes Males controlling dominant independent controlling and manipulating the environment assertive dominant competitive Females relatively passive loving sensitive and supportive in social relationships affiliative especially in their family roles as wife and mother Warmth in personal relationships the display of anxiety under pressure and the suppression of overt aggression and sexuality as more appropriate for women than men Gender Role Standards and Stereotypes Sex stereotypes that men are more aggressive than women and women more interpersonally sensitive than men are very robust even among more educated people and for both sexes and across all social classes Keep in mind that male female distributions overlap Rethinking Sex Differences in Aggression Aggressive Behavior in the Absence of Two studiesRoles Social investigated the influence of social roles on sex differences in aggression focusing on expectations and behavior Normal identification vs Deindividuation Deindividuation or anonymity was used to remove the influence of social roles in one condition Men aggressed more than women in the individuated condition No differences in deindividuated condition Subjects perceptions of their behavior were more consistent with the implicit theories documented than with how they actually behaved Gender Role Standards and Stereotypes Some recent findings in the Western World Men are more likely to have traditional gender stereotypes than women especially if they are the sole wage earner in the family Fathers are on average more concerned that their children maintain behaviors appropriate to their gender fathers play a more important role than mothers in defining children s gender stereotyping Both fathers and mothers enforce gender boundaries more frequently with sons than with daughters This is not just what is forbidden but what they SHOULD do More likely to encourage sons to pursue certain hobbies studies or skills AND more likely to encourage gendered behaviors Gender Role Standards and Stereotypes Teachers were more likely to direct boys to cease behaviors e g running throwing objects STOP THAT Teachers were more likely to instruct girls to alter behaviors DO THIS talk to her don t yell sit here pick that up be careful be gentle give it to me put it down there A wider range of potential activities is available to boys than girls because although they are dissuaded from some they are not directed to engage in specific activities as often as girls are Stability of Gender Typing Masculinity and femininity develop early and are typically stable personality characteristics Am I a boy or a girl By the age of 3 children know if they are male or female Increasing understanding Children organize their world according to gender starting at age 2 or 3 Children form many ideas about what the sexes are like from about 1 to 3 years of age By age 4 children know stereotypes about clothing toys games work and occupations NOTE Sesame Street and other programs young children watch promotes stereotypes Development of awareness Generally By Age 2 Children know whether they are boys or girls and apply gender labels consistently By Age 4 Children are convinced that certain toys such as dolls or trucks are appropriate for one gender but not the other By Age 5 Increased awareness of sex and gender differences By Age 8 Belief that their biological sex is a permanent trait From age 2 to age 8 Awareness of sex differences preferences for same sex playmates and stereotypical gender activities increase Role of environment Parents who assume traditional stereotypic gender roles behave differently toward their children of different sexes fathers especially Consider the differences in toys promoted for each sex child Children pick up on some social gender role expectations as early as 14 months Boys receive earlier gender socialization What s the difference between boys and girls http www youtube com watch v EkTb 3Y1CDcA Kimmel 4 min http www youtube com watch v kxL8 q4UEJmY 5 min mother interviews son Theories of sex role development Major Theories Psychoanalytic Theories Freud Erikson Social Learning Theory Cognitive developmental Theory Gender Schema Theory Biological Evolutionary Neuroscience Psychoanalytic Theories Freud believed Ages 3 to 5 children feel sexually attracted to their other sex parent Ages 5 to 6 children feel guilt and anxiety over their attraction Psychoanalytical Theory Connection with same sex parent important Identification with parent Attempt to defend one s self concept by taking on the behaviors and attitudes of someone else Electra complex Unconscious desire of girls to replace their mothers and win their fathers exclusive love Oedipus complex Unconscious desire of young boys to replace their fathers and win their mothers exclusive love Erikson An extension of Freud s Theory Based on sexual differences between men and women to explain psychological differences Due to differing genital structures males more intrusive and aggressive females more inclusive and passive Social Learning Theory Socialization of children is one of the major causes of gender differences between boys and girls Children notice the ways men and women behave and internalize the standards