Theories On Differences in Male and Female Gender Roles (as pertaining to psychology)

(Freud , 1963

Psychosocial Theory

Eric Erikson postulated that human were all dependents at the early years of their lives (Huitt , 2008 . Then , as maturity takes its spontaneous course , the adult humans attain autonomy . However , since independence is typically ascribed as a male characteristic , this notion then still goes in favor for the dominance of men . This means that men 's level of maturity and achievement are always afar from women

Social-Cognitive Theory

Cognitivists ascribed gender-role development to the cognitive construction of gender conceptions and familial-behavioral styles while parental role

in molding and shaping behaviors is the important notion for behaviorist . The social-cognitive theory of Albert Bandura , on the other hand , described gender-role as the product of a complex network of societal influences on the perception of an individual (Bussey and Bandura , 1999 . However , most psychological theories limited their notion to a particular stage of an individual 's life . These theories have focused on either the early stage or adult stage of gender-role development in parallel with the growth and development of an individual (Bussey and Bandura , 1999 . Since gender-role changes with respect to social context and stages of life , it takes effect then throughout the life of an individual . In addition , sociocultural and technological determinants may alter the conceptions on gender conduct

Bussey and Bandura (1999 ) proposed a social-cognitive theory (SCT , of gender development and differentiation . They suggested a particular view of how gender-related behavior is acquired and maintained , based on contemporary social learning theory . Also , they integrated cognitive constructs to biological underpinnings and sociostructural factors thus , comprehensive and integrative . In particular , they were highly critical of previous cognitive approaches to early gender development and proposed that children 's cognitive structures , gender identity and stereotype knowledge are less significant than social forces . Thus , SCT has a life-course view on gender-role...