1 Psychology 320: Psychology of Gender and Sex Differences Lecture 22

2 Office Hour Invitations November 6 th, 1:30-2:30, Kenny

3 Neoanalytic Theories and Social Learning Theories of Gender Development 1. What theories illustrate the neoanalytic, gynocentric view? (continued) 2. What theories illustrate the social learning view?

4 2. describe the social cognitive theory of gender development. 4. identify common models of gender. By the end of today’s class, you should be able to: 3. identify factors that influence imitation. 1. discuss Chodorow’s hypothesis regarding the benefits of shared parenting.

5 What theories illustrate the neoanalytic, gynocentric view? (continued) 2. Nancy Chodorow’s Theory of Gender Development (continued)

6  Chodorow’s theory suggests that shared parenting between females and males would reduce negative attitudes toward females and, thus, result in more egalitarian gender roles and relationships.  Research (e.g., Kaschack, 1992) has not fully supported this assertion (see also Chodorow, 1999).

7 What theories illustrate the social learning view? The social learning view emphasizes social influences and learning processes in gender development. Three theories illustrate the social learning view:

8 1.Social Cognitive Theory  Maintains that the characteristics of females and males diverge because they learn sex-appropriate characteristics from different models within their environment.

9  Research has shown that people are most likely to imitate a model when: the model is warm, nurturing, or an authority. the model’s behaviour has been rewarded. the situation is unfamiliar or ambiguous. imitation by the observer has been rewarded. the model is of the same sex as the observer. the model behaves in a gender-role congruent way.

10  Models may be “real-life” models or symbolic models: parents. peers. toys. books. television programs. advertisements. music videos. computer games.

Common Toys for Girls 11

Common Toys for Boys 12

“Classic” Books for Children 13

14  Contemporary research (e.g., Diekman & Murnen, 2004; Gooden & Gooden, 2001) indicates that: Females and males are presented as the main character in children’s books with equal frequency. Males are featured more frequently in illustrations than females. Males are depicted in more varied roles than females.

15 Both sexes continue to be portrayed in gender-typical ways. In contrast to “sexist” books, “nonsexist” books present females as more masculine but do not present males as more feminine.

The Berenstain Bears Little Bear Children, Family, and Adult TV Series Desperate Housewives Flashpoint The Young and the Restless Mighty Machines Gossip Girl 16 The Bachelor Mad Men

 Signorielli & Lears (1992), Rivadeneyra & Ward (2005), Zurbiggen & Morgan (2006): Found a positive correlation between time spent watching television and the extent to which children and adults hold gender-role stereotypes. 17

Vintage Advertisements 18

Contemporary Advertisements 19

Contemporary Advertisements 20

Contemporary Advertisements 21

22  Coltrane & Messineo (2000): Found that women are more likely to be depicted as sex objects and in domestic settings and that men are more likely to be depicted as aggressive and instrumental. However, depictions varied across racial groups:

% Percentage of Characters in Commercials by Sex, Activity and Race (Coltrane & Messineo, 2000) 23

24 Neoanalytic Theories and Social Learning Theories of Gender Development 1. What theories illustrate the neoanalytic, gynocentric view? (continued) 2. What theories illustrate the social learning view?