Psychology: Social Learning Theory And Gender Schema Theory

According to the psychology dictionary, the definition of gender stereotypes is, “the relatively fixed and overgeneralized attitudes and behaviors that are considered normal and appropriate for a person in a particular culture based on his or her biological sex,” (Dictionary.com, 2017) and the definition of gender roles is, “the role or behavior learned by a person as appropriate to their gender, determined by the prevailing cultural norms,” (Nugent, 2013). Both concepts go hand in hand, and both persist even today in the 21st century. In the field of psychology, there are several theories that explain why such concepts exists. Examples include social learning theory and gender schema theory. Both psychological theories clearly indicate that

The first psychological theory that helps explain how gender roles, and ultimately stereotypes were created by society is the social learning theory. The social learning theory is not a direct cause of gender stereotypes, but it is a cause for gender roles, which then in turn create the gender stereotypes. The social learning theory states that a person learns gender roles from observation and imitation of models, and by reinforcement or punishment (Ciccarelli; White, 2015). For example, a young girl watches her mother put on makeup every day in the mirror before she leaves for work. Eventually, the young girl will take interest in putting on makeup herself only because she wants to be like her mom. The mother will then either reinforce or punish her behavior. In most cases, a young girl will be reinforced because it is a common gender role and stereotype for women to wear makeup, and she wants her child to uphold her

A scientific study article written by Rebecca Martin titled, Gender and Emotion Stereotypes in Children’s Television, exemplifies the impact of television on children, and the gender stereotypes they display. It was stated that the one hour that a child watches television per day, is just one way that children are exposed to gender roles and stereotypes, and that, “…social learning theory would posit that people of all ages can learn a great deal about who and what is valued in society from being exposed to media,” (Martin, 2017). In this study, it was found that more male characters are portrayed in children’s television, and female characters were far less complex characters, and that the emotions portrayed be the characters’ fell under their “proper” gender stereotype (Martin, 2017). While children watch these shows, they begin to realize these sorts of aspects, and this has a large impact on children. Not only do gender roles and stereotypes live in television shows, they also live in the commercials and advertisements shown on the television as well. An article titled, The Role or Behaviour Learned by a Person as Appropriate to Their Gender, Determined by the Prevailing Cultural Norms, also found that the characters portrayed in commercials followed gender roles and stereotypes. Men, by majority, were not displayed in the home, and women are