Research indicates that mothers talk more to girls,that parents talk more about emotions to girls,that parents put more pressure on boys to suppress crying,and that teachers are more disapproving of girls than of boys when they are highly active.Which of the following theories argues that these modeling and rewarding processes are the most important influences on sex differences in behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Social learning theories argue that behavior is learned through modeling and rewarding processes, and that sex differences in behavior are primarily influenced by these processes. The research findings mentioned in the question, such as mothers talking more to girls and parents putting more pressure on boys to suppress crying, can be seen as examples of how gender-specific behaviors are learned through observation and reinforcement. Information processing theories focus on how individuals process and store information, psychoanalytic theories focus on unconscious conflicts and emotions, and behavioral genetics theories focus on genetic and environmental influences on behavior. While all of these theories may play a role in shaping sex differences in behavior, social learning theories specifically emphasize the role of modeling and reinforcement in learning gender-specific behaviors.

Research Indicates That Mothers Talk More to Girls,that Parents Talk