Cognitive-Developmental+Theory

=Cognitive-Developmental Theory=

Cognitive Developmental Theory proposes that children acpuire gender roles by interacting with their environment thinking about those experiences. As they do this, Children learn different sets of standards of male and female behavior. To learn about gender, a child must first see himself or herself as male or female. Then the child begins to organize behavior around this concept. The child may begin to acquire preferences consist with his or her perceived gender. Eventuallay they form a gender schema. A **gender schema** is a mental representation of behavior that helps a child organize and categorize behaviors.

Girls play with dolls because it is what they have learned that is acceptable for them.

Boys learn to play roughly with each others because it is what is acceptable for them.