Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)
Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)
2nd Edition
ISBN: 9780393265156
Author: Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
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Chapter 10, Problem 1BCC-356
Summary Introduction

Concept introduction:

Gender schemas are a way of organizing or categorizing information about gender. Traits, feelings, preferences, and styles can all be categorized as more typically male or female. Gender schemas can also lead to the development of gender stereotypes, which involve common, and sometimes rigid, beliefs about males and females.

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Parents and companies alike can feed into gender stereotypes. Parents are the ones who buy the toys and clothes for their child. Companies, as well as societal expectations, can influence these purchases. If a little girl is surrounded by pink clothes, dolls, and princess dresses, she may learn that this is what girls like and this is how girls behave. The parent’s intent is not likely malicious. Cultural norms produce certain assumptions and stereotypes that can be passed down through generations.

The research in Salma’s article appears to prove that children develop a color preference at 3 years of age. However, there is a lot more to consider in this case. If color preference was truly inborn, or biologically based, the children who were 2 years old and younger should have also shown a color preference. Yet, preference for pink, and even aversion in the case of boys, was not statistically significant until age 3. Consider all the things that can happen in a child’s environment in 3 years. Children learn a lot from observing their surroundings and take social cues from adults, especially in the early developmental years. If a girl is surrounded by pink and a boy is surrounded by blue, they become accustomed to these colors and can associate them with their own identities. Further, due to gender stereotypes about men and masculinity, boys are often taught to avoid “girlie” things, which includes pink. This can lead to even more divergent preferences. Therefore, while Salma’s article was able to show color preferences, these only arise after age 3 and are most likely impacted by environmental cues and social experiences, rather than inborn qualities.

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Chapter 10 Solutions

Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)

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