Question

Moreover, research suggests that when children perform activities not normally stereotypical of their gender, they adjust their thinking so the activity becomes acceptable, which suggests that thinking is affected by:

a) Peer pressure
b) Gender schema development
c) Social norms
d) Parental influence

Answer 1

Children's thinking is affected by gender schema development when they participate in gender atypical activities. This process is influenced by family, peers, and societal expectations, leading to the reinforcement of gender norms through positive and negative feedback.

Step-by-step explanation:

When children engage in activities that are not typically associated with their gender, they often adjust their thinking to make such activities more acceptable to themselves. This adjustment in thinking is greatly influenced by gender schema development.

Gender schema theory suggests that children learn about gender roles and develop gender-typed preferences and behaviors early in life. This process of learning gender roles through socialization is heavily influenced by family, peers, education, and mass media.

Parents may unknowly influence gender role development through the kinds of toys and activities they provide. For example, boys may receive toys like trucks and toy guns, which promote certain skills and behaviors, while girls may receive dolls and dress-up clothes, encouraging different skills and behaviors.

This differential treatment by parents aligns with societal expectations and contributes to the reinforcement of gender norms. Peer pressure plays a significant role as well, as children who deviate from expected gender behaviors may face negative feedback, including ridicule and exclusion, which further enforces conformity to gender norms.