On Broadening the Cognitive, Motivational, and Sociostructural Scope of Theorizing About Gender Development and Functioning: Comment on Martin, Ruble, and Szkrybalo (2002).
- 1 January 2004
- journal article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Psychological Bulletin
- Vol. 130 (5), 691-701
- https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.130.5.691
Abstract
In their article on gender development, C. L. Martin, D. N. Ruble, and J. Szkrybalo (see record 2002-18663-003) contrasted their conception of gender development with that of social cognitive theory. The authors of this commentary correct misrepresentations of social cognitive theory and analyze the conceptual and empirical status of Martin et al.'s (2002) theory that gender stereotype matching is the main motivating force of gender development. Martin et al. (2002) based their claim for the causal primacy of gender self-categorization on construal of gender discrimination as rudimentary self-identity, equivocal empirical evidence, and dismissal of discordant evidence because of methodological deficiencies. The repeated finding that gendered preferences and behavior precede emergence of a sense of self is discordant with their theory. Different lines of evidence confirm that gender development and functioning are socially situated, richly contextualized, and conditionally manifested rather than governed mainly by an intrinsic drive to match stereotypic gender self-conception.Keywords
This publication has 58 references indexed in Scilit:
- Sociocognitive self-regulatory mechanisms governing transgressive behavior.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2001
- Social Cognition on the Playground: Children's Beliefs about Playing with Girls Versus Boys and their Relations to Sex Segregated PlayJournal of Social and Personal Relationships, 1999
- Social cognitive theory of gender development and differentiation.Psychological Review, 1999
- The influence of gender labelling on preschoolers' gender constancy judgementsBritish Journal of Developmental Psychology, 1994
- Self-Regulatory Mechanisms Governing Gender DevelopmentChild Development, 1992
- Genital Knowledge and Gender Constancy in Preschool ChildrenChild Development, 1989
- Changes in thinking about early sex role developmentDevelopmental Review, 1985
- Role of mathematics self-efficacy in the choice of math-related majors of college women and men: A path analysis.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1985
- The Effects of Sex-Typing Schemas on Young Children's MemoryChild Development, 1983
- Sex Role Stereotypes: Developmental Aspects and Early InterventionChild Development, 1976