Jeff explains,"When I was a young boy,my dad used to yell and scream at me every time I tried to play with my sister's dolls,but when I played on the soccer and t-ball teams,he couldn't stop encouraging me.I wanted him to be proud of me,and it really scared me when he was mad,so even though I didn't like sports that much,I kept playing them." What theory would best describe this example of gender development?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The example given highlights the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping gender behavior, which is a core principle of social learning theory. The father's praise and encouragement for playing sports and his disapproval of playing with dolls reinforced traditional gender roles and behaviors.

Jeff Explains,"When I Was a Young Boy,my Dad Used to Yell