Outline And Evaluate The Behaviourist Approach To The Study
Describe and evaluate social influences on gender roles (25 marks)
Bandura and Walters (1963) proposed the social learning theory initially to explain aggression in children, yet they argued it can be readily applied to any behaviour. SLT suggests we acquire new behaviours via observing others, then modelling the observed behaviour. We are more likely to model behaviours if the behaviour is rewarded, via indirect, vicarious reinforcement. We can also learn new behaviours via being reinforced or punished directly. Therefore, learning is a combination of indirect and direct reinforcement, both key aspects of the behaviourist approach.
Bandura then modified his original theory, to add in the importance of cognitive factors, and used this to explain gender development. He argued that gender …show more content…
Parents tend to treat their own offspring differently, according to their gender, boys are reinforced in different ways to girls, and fathers usually react more negatively than mothers to their son’s feminine top play (Idle et al 1993). Evidence comes from studies such as Smith and Lloyd (1978) who found that first time mothers responded differently to a newly-introduced child depending on whether they believed the child was either male or female, selecting gender appropriate toys and using more/less vocal interaction. However, the study was lab-based, and the validity can be questioned, as it does not tell us how the parents would respond to their own child in a natural setting. Further support comes from Fagot et al (1992) whose natural experiment found that parents who show the clearest patterns of differential reinforcement have children who are quicker at developing strong gender preferences. This study was higher in ecological validity due to the setting, however, it cannot discount the role of culture or
Bandura and Walters (1963) proposed the social learning theory initially to explain aggression in children, yet they argued it can be readily applied to any behaviour. SLT suggests we acquire new behaviours via observing others, then modelling the observed behaviour. We are more likely to model behaviours if the behaviour is rewarded, via indirect, vicarious reinforcement. We can also learn new behaviours via being reinforced or punished directly. Therefore, learning is a combination of indirect and direct reinforcement, both key aspects of the behaviourist approach.
Bandura then modified his original theory, to add in the importance of cognitive factors, and used this to explain gender development. He argued that gender …show more content…
Parents tend to treat their own offspring differently, according to their gender, boys are reinforced in different ways to girls, and fathers usually react more negatively than mothers to their son’s feminine top play (Idle et al 1993). Evidence comes from studies such as Smith and Lloyd (1978) who found that first time mothers responded differently to a newly-introduced child depending on whether they believed the child was either male or female, selecting gender appropriate toys and using more/less vocal interaction. However, the study was lab-based, and the validity can be questioned, as it does not tell us how the parents would respond to their own child in a natural setting. Further support comes from Fagot et al (1992) whose natural experiment found that parents who show the clearest patterns of differential reinforcement have children who are quicker at developing strong gender preferences. This study was higher in ecological validity due to the setting, however, it cannot discount the role of culture or