The Influence of Gender Categories and Gender Stereotypes on Young Children’s Generalizations of Biological and Behavioral Characteristics
Author ORCID Identifier
Bradford H. Pillow: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8723-0893
Publication Title
Psychological Reports
ISSN
00332941
E-ISSN
1558691X
Document Type
Article
Abstract
We examined the influence of categorization and stereotyping on young children’s (N = 96; 39 to 71 months of age) use of gender to make generalizations regarding novel biological and behavioral characteristics. Participants were asked to sort pictures of children according to either gender, common gender stereotypes, or shirt color. Then participants performed a triad inductive reasoning task. Children in the Stereotype condition consistently generalized on the basis of gender, but performance was inconsistent in the absence of stereotyping. Results are discussed in relation to variability in early gender cognition.
First Page
328
Last Page
343
Publication Date
2-1-2022
DOI
10.1177/0033294120973933
PubMed ID
33236690
Keywords
cognitive development, early childhood, essentialism, Gender stereotypes, inductive reasoning, sex roles
Recommended Citation
Pillow, Bradford H.; Vilma, Taneisha; and Low, Natalie, "The Influence of Gender Categories and Gender Stereotypes on Young Children’s Generalizations of Biological and Behavioral Characteristics" (2022). NIU Bibliography. 61.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/niubib/61
Department
Department of Psychology
