Final answer:
Children recognize that gender is permanent around the ages of four or five. They learn gender roles through socialization and are influenced by societal values and gender stereotypes. Theories such as Lawrence Kohlberg's are relevant in the study of gender development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children begin to understand that gender is permanent at a very young age. Cross-cultural studies indicate that by age two or three, children are aware of gender roles, and by four or five, most are deeply entrenched in these roles. The theory that encompasses this understanding is the Social Learning Theory, which asserts that children acquire gender roles through socialization – a process of learning to behave in a manner deemed appropriate by society’s standards.
Developmental psychologists have identified several theories explaining how babies and children develop, with a focus on different domains such as physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects. Notably, Lawrence Kohlberg proposed a theory of moral development related to gender understanding, suggesting that gender constancy is achieved around age six or seven, which coincides with his concrete operational stage of cognitive development.
Gender development is also highlighted by gender stereotypes, which are oversimplified generalizations about the traits of men and women. Societal pressures and attitudes play a critical role in how gender roles and expectations are internalized by children from a very young age, sometimes leading to issues of body image and self-identity as seen in various cultural contexts.