Social Learning Theory in Relation to Gender Development free essay sample

Describe SLT explanations for gender (You MUST focus on gender, not just SLT in general)Social learning theorists such as Bandura believe that all behaviour is learnt. In regards to gender development, SL theorists believe society trains individuals how to act in accordance with societys expectations of males and females. The reason boys and girls behave differently is because they are treated differently. Other peoples expectations of how the child should behave is dependent on their sex, shapes the behaviour of the child. SLT emphasises the importance of observation and reinforcement in the development of behaviour and attitudes. An individual seeks to determine what behaviour and beliefs are appropriate to display. Through observing role models and imitating their behaviour, followed by reinforcement by significant individuals in the childs life, the child will learn a new behaviour or attitude considered sex appropriate, If that behaviour is not reinforced, or is punished, the behaviour will not be learnt. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Learning Theory in Relation to Gender Development or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For example, a boy may identify with a group of boys of the same age playing football. The boy will imitate that behaviour and also play football. The behaviour will be reinforced through acceptance by his peers. This football playing behaviour will be learnt. By observing reinforcement in others, behaviour can also be learned. For example, if Carol sees Julie display a certain behaviour, and also sees Julie reinforced for that behaviour, Carol is more likely to imitate and therefore learn that behaviour. Summarise a piece of evidence to support SLTUsing the experimental method, Bandura arranged for boys and girls to witness a short television programme in which children of a similar age behaved aggressively towards a toy doll called a Bobo doll. There were three films, each with a different outcome. A- positive outcome. B- An adult made a critical comment to the aggressive behaviour. C- Nothing happened about the behaviour. The results showed that even though the children were exposed to the same behaviour, boys showed high levels of imitation and girls showed low levels of imitation and were particularly influenced by negative comments. | Explain why it is evidenceThis is evidence because it shows that boys were influenced by gender stereotypes and were more aggressive than the girls as they were more violent towards the Bobo doll where as girls were much less aggressive and were much more reserved, they were better behaved and this matched female stereotypes of being timid and less aggressive then males. | However.. .We dont know if there was anything previous to the experiment which could have affected the way that the children behaved towards the Bobo doll such as watching a violent act before the experiment or parental influences which could have caused them to already have internalised an aggressive or passive behaviour. This would mean that environmental situations have affected the experiment making it less reliable. | Summarise a piece of evidence to support SLTMartin and Halverson 1983 Using the experimental method, the researchers showed five and six year old children pictures of carrying out activities.Sometimes these activities were schema consistent (for example a girl playing with a doll) and sometimes the they were schema inconsistent (for example a girl playing with a gun). The results found that when the pictures were tested a week late the children were able to remember schema consistent images better and then when schema inconsistent images were recalled they were often distor ted so that the expected sex was remembered as carrying out the activity (for example, children recalled a boy playing with a gun rather than a girl). Explain why it is evidenceIt shows that children do use schemas to help them make sense of their world. They will sometimes use schemas to reorganise information so that it is consistent with their view of gender even if it is not accurate. | However It may be that the students have generalised the activitys specifically shown to be either male and female and if other activities were shown then the results may have differed. They also had the week in between so it also shows more of a memory test and some students could have paid more attention than other which could have influenced what they remembered.It was only done in one classroom meaning that it is a biased piece of information limited only to the pupils in the classroom they were tested in. this is a problem as the pupils cant be used to generalise the behaviours of other people. The social learning theory suggests that if a child is punished for doing something wrong then the behaviour in not internalised, however this is not always the case and sometimes children still repeat the same behaviours even after being punished for doing so. This shows that the social learning theory cant be used as a concrete method. |