Transcript Slide 1
Adolescent Psychology Chapter 5: Gender What is Gender? Is there a difference between gender & sex? Gender refers to the psychological & sociocultural dimensions of being male or female. A gender role is a set of expectations that prescribes how females & males should think, act, & feel. Biological Influences on Gender Puberty intensifies sexual aspects of gender attitudes & behaviors Anatomy is destiny… ◦ Freud & Erikson Evolutionary Psychology ◦ Behaviors differ by gender due to what has been adaptive and led to procreation over evolutionary history Gender & Brain development ◦ Not much research… ◦ 2007 study indicates, peak seems to correspond to pubertal development (earlier for girls) ◦ 2009 study indicates by early adulthood gender similarities are most notable Social Influences on Gender Social Role Theory: gender differences mainly result from the contrasting roles of males and females Females: less power, status, and resources Social hierarchy causes gender differences in power, assertiveness, and nurturing (Eagly, 2009) Parental Influences on Gender ◦ By example & by action ◦ Socialization Strategies ◦ Gender differences …independence, expectations, goals The social cognitive theory of gender ◦ Gender development is influenced by observation & imitation of others’ gender behavior, as well as by the rewards & punishments they experience for genderappropriate & gender-inappropriate behavior Sibling Influences Social Influences on Gender Peers ◦ “Gender School” ◦ Teased or Reinforced…accepted or rejected Schools & Teachers ◦ Compliance, following rules, & being neat &orderly are valued & reinforced in many classrooms ◦ A large majority of teachers are females ◦ Boys are more likely than girls to have learning problems ◦ Boys are more likely than girls to be criticized ◦ School personnel tend to stereotype boys’ behavior as problematic. ◦ Is the classroom problematic for boys? ◦ So is the classroom problematic for girls? The Mass Media Adolescent heightened sensitivity to TV messages about gender roles ◦ Television shows directed at adolescents are extremely stereotyped in their portrayal of the sexes ◦ Influences sexism, body image… Cognitive Influences on Gender Individuals actively construct their gender world Observation, imitation, rewards, punishments Adolescent interacts with environment Internal motivation to conform -- acceptance Gender Schema Theory ◦ Gender-typing emerges as individuals gradually develop gender schemas of what is gender-appropriate and gender-inappropriate in their culture. ◦ Gender schema: cognitive structure that organizes the world in terms of “male” & “female” Gender Stereotypes Gender stereotypes ◦ Are broad categories that reflect our impressions & beliefs about females & males. ◦ What is “feminine” & “masculine” Sexism ◦ Prejudice & discrimination against an individual because of his or her sex. Gender Stereotypes Gender Similarities & Differences Physical Similarities & Differences ◦ Life expectancy ◦ Brain differences ? Cognitive Similarities & Differences ◦ Math, (?) visuospatial, and verbal skills (?) ◦ Overall interest in academics Socioemotional Similarities & Differences ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Aggression Communication in relationships Prosocial bx – bx intended to benefit others Self-regulation of emotion and bx Gender Similarities & Differences Some examples of brain differences: ◦ Portion of hypothalamus involved with sex tends to be larger in males than females ◦ Portions of corpus callosum tends to larger in females than in males ◦ Males tend to be better at visio-spatial skills ◦ Females tend to show more brain activity involved in emotional expression ◦ Female smaller brain, but more surface area than males **similarities and differences could be due to heredity and evolution AND/OR social experiences – remember we see learning in the brain!! Socioemotional Similarities & Differences Aggression Communication in Relationships ◦ Physical vs. Relational ◦ Rapport talk: language of conversation and a way of establishing connections and negotiating relationships. Females enjoy rapport talk and conversation that is relationship oriented more than boys do. ◦ Report talk: Talk that gives information. Males tend to hold center stage though such verbal performances as storytelling, joking, and lecturing with information. ◦ Communication competence appears to vary with context Group size – girls more competent in large groups Speaking with peers or adults – girls talk with adults more Familiarity – self-assertive speech (boys use more) with unfamiliar individuals Age – gender difference in affiliative speech greatest during adolescence More on Socioemotional… Prosocial Behavior: Girls Kind and considerate behavior (not sharing) Emotional self-regulation Boys are more likely to hide there “negative” emotions, beginning in childhood By SELF-REPORT…girls are more likely to experience sadness, shame, guilt in adolescence Boys tend to have lower emotional self-regulation skills, which can lead to behavior problems (selfcontrol, impulse control, ) Similarities/Differences? Gender Controversy Extent of true gender differences Gender differences have been greatly exaggerated by mass media, pop psychology… Males & Females are similar on most psychological factors Gender in Context Context Culture Education Masculinity & Femininity Class participation time… Androgyny Androgyny: presence of a high degree of both masculine & feminine traits Advocates of androgyny programs (in education) argue that traditional sextyping is harmful for all students & especially has prevented many girls from experiencing equal opportunity Problems with Traditional Masculinity in Adolescent Development “Boy code”: socialized to not show feelings & act tough Boys could benefit from being socialized to express anxieties & concerns Premarital sex Alcohol & drugs Delinquent activities Critics of the Androgyny Perspective Gender-role Transcendence The view that when an individual’s competence is at issue, it should be conceptualized on a person basis rather than on the basis of masculinity, femininity, or androgyny (Pleck, 1983). Developmental Changes & Junctures Gender intensification hypothesis ◦ Psychological & behavioral differences between boys & girls become greater during early adolescence ◦ This is due to increased socialization pressures to conform to traditional masculine & feminine gender roles Is Early Adolescence a Critical Juncture for Females? ◦ Awareness of male dominated culture ◦ Lack of value placed on intimacy vs. expected to be caring & altruistic ◦ To be selfish or selfless? ◦ Voice not valued?