Final answer:
Martin and Halverson's findings support that children develop gender expectations before role preferences, aligning with gender schema theory. This theory posits that socialization is key in teaching children culturally defined gender roles, which they begin to understand and adopt from a very young age.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Gender Schema Theory
Martin and Halverson's findings support the gender schema theory which suggests that children develop an understanding of gender roles early on through socialization. According to this theory, children are aware of gender roles by the ages of two or three and start to adopt behaviors and attitudes that are culturally defined as appropriate for their gender.
The correct answer to the provided question is that Martin and Halverson's findings support the idea that children develop c) Gender expectations before role preferences.
Gender schema theory explains how children's understanding of gender expectations influences their behavior and preferences for gender roles.
Socialization plays a crucial role in reinforcing gender stereotypes and roles through the differential treatment of boys and girls in various societal contexts, including family, education, peer groups, and mass media.
Developing schemas about gender roles involves integrating societal norms into one's self-concept, which then guides how an individual interprets and responds to new information. This process is influenced by a child's environment and upbringing, with a strong emphasis on parental reinforcement and societal expectations.