From a young age, Karen has always been praised by her parents for her feminine behavior. Her parents reward her behavior by saying such statements as "Karen, you look very pretty in your frock." Her brother, on the other hand, is reprimanded for playing with Karen's dolls. In the context of social influences on gender development, this scenario is in accordance with the ________ of gender.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario illustrates the social cognitive theory, which emphasizes learning behaviors through observation and imitation, and reinforcement. Karen is being reinforced for gender-normative behavior, which aligns with the social cognitive theory's view on how individuals learn and perform gendered behaviors based on social interactions and reinforcements.

From a Young Age, Karen Has Always Been Praised by Her