IB Psychology HL 3.2.6 Social Norms Questions

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "discuss" requires candidates to offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses of the formation and development of gender roles.

Candidates do not need to distinguish between the formation and development of gender roles, as the two are so closely linked.

Relevant theories may include, but are not limited to:
- gender schema theory that stresses the key role of cognitive processes in the development of gender roles
- social learning theory that highlights the importance of the social environment and emphasizes the potency of observational and modelling processes
- theory of psychosexual differentiation that is based on the assumption that gender roles are related to genetic sex determined by chromosomes
- evolutionary theory that attempts to locate gender role differences in a historical evolutionary context
- psychodynamic theory that is based on the assumption that gender roles appear when children identify with their same-sex parent.

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:
- Martin and Halvorson's study (1983) showing the role of gender schemas on gender roles
- Fagot's study (1978) showing the influence of parents on gender roles
- Mead's study (1935) showing that gender roles depend upon the society
- Money and Ehrhardt's study (1972) claiming that children are gender neutral at birth.

Discussion may include but is not limited to:
- supporting and contradicting evidence
- the role of sociocultural factors such as media, parental influence or stereotypes
- sociocultural differences in conceptualization of gender roles
- the interaction of nature and nurture
- methodological and/or ethical considerations.