SEX AND GENDER: social learning theory of gender development

Gender is learnt through watching and copying behaviours of others

A role models provides and example for the child

Copying behaviour of role modle

Leading from model being punished or rewarded

To show that children imitate behaviour carried out by same sex role models

Children shown film of role models carries out unfamiliar activities. In one condition all the males played with one activity and all the females played with another. In the second condition some males and females played with one activity and males and females played with the other

In the first condition the children imitated same sex role model and boys played with what the males had and girls played with what the females had. In the second condition there was no difference in the activity between boys and girls

When children are in unfamiliar situation they will copy same sex role model

+ well supported by research - doesn't explain why children brought up in single sex homes have no difficulty developing gender - it doesn't explain how two children brought up in same home by same role models could differ in masculinity in their behaviour - suggest gender is learnt so disregards all biological differences