The Theories of Sex and Gender Essay -- Comparison Compare

The Theories of Sex and Gender Sex and sex activity are two very separate factors in the debate of how sexual urge achievement occurs. Sex is a biological fact determined by the chromosomes inherited from parents. Gender however, refers to the behaviour, beliefs, attitude and sense of identity that society perceives as being appropriate for either a male or a female, and therefore sexual practice is regarded as a social fact. MOGHADDAM (1998, as cited in HARALAMBOS et al, 2002). There are four main theories in the gender acquisition debate, Evolutionary psychology, Psychoanalytical system, Social Learning Theory and Cognitive-development Theory. This paper aims to attract and evaluate Social Learning Theory and Cognitive-development Theory. Social Learning theorists see the development of gender occurs as a result of a claws social experience and think much of this learning butt be explained by conditioning and observational learning. Sex-role and gender behaviours are knowing in the same way as any other behaviour. In terms of conditioning, parents socialise their babyren, preparing them for adult gender roles by providing them with gender-appropriate toys. In galore(postnominal) societies girls are given dolls and cooking equipment in preparation for the maternal and municipal aspects of their adult gender role. BANDURA & WALTERS (1963, as cited in HARALAMBOS et al, 2002) Social Learning theorists in any case think that children learn gender roles from same sex role models such as parents, peers, teachers and media figures who provide children with opportunities to observe and imitate behaviours, this is known as observational learning. O... ...r cognitive and motivational factors. This new supposition, Social Cognitive Theory, suggests that a child has its own ability to regulate his/her own activities according to the rules of gender appropriate behaviour. Thi s combines Social Learning Theory with Cognitive Development Theory and shows a move from parental control over this process to an misgiving that children actively evaluate situations and adapt their behaviour accordingly. This more recent theory aims to broaden and combine earlier approaches and to develop them further. Reference List ============== Cardwell.M, Clark.L, Meldrum.C (2000) Psychology for A Level London Harper Collins Haralambos.M, Rice.D, Foreman.N, Jones.S, Stenner.P, Brown.S, Kinderman.P, Sharp.K (2002) Psychology in Focus for A Level Lancashire Causeway Press