Sociocultural Theory:
In my original paper one of the theories I used to back up my arguments was the Sociocultural theory. This theory comes from Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky. The concepts of this theory stem from the idea of nature vs nurture (heredity creates who you are vs your interactions with your environment creates who you are). Sociocultural theory leans more towards the nurture side of this concept. Vygotsky’s theory states that a child’s interactions with their social and cultural environments shapes who the child will develop into. Through their interactions with their environment and experiences with more skilled adults children develop sharper mental processes and internalize new knowledge. Language is key to this development …show more content…
Because of gender division in toys, girls are most likely going to play with girl toys and boys play with boy toys- and boys and girls toys are not created equal. It’s clear that boys’ toys show strong, tough, brave characteristics whereas girls’ toys show delicate, gentle, soft characteristics- characteristics children learn that are supposed to reflect who they are. Limiting a child to only specific toys for their gender limits the influences that can create who they could become. Psychodynamic theorist Erik Erickson supports this idea through his Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. For example, if a child were to pick out a toy on their own and chose against their gender assigned toy gender they would feel guilty and shameful because they are going against societies rules. In Erikson’s second and third stage (toddler: autonomy v. shame/doubt and preschool: initiative v. guilt), children are encouraged to care and make decisions for themselves but negative responses (negative reinforcement) to them choosing this toy not assigned to their gender teaches the child that they are being bad even if the toy makes them happy which leads to guilt and shame. And this guilt and shame is damaging to the child’s development because it will make them insecure so they
In my original paper one of the theories I used to back up my arguments was the Sociocultural theory. This theory comes from Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky. The concepts of this theory stem from the idea of nature vs nurture (heredity creates who you are vs your interactions with your environment creates who you are). Sociocultural theory leans more towards the nurture side of this concept. Vygotsky’s theory states that a child’s interactions with their social and cultural environments shapes who the child will develop into. Through their interactions with their environment and experiences with more skilled adults children develop sharper mental processes and internalize new knowledge. Language is key to this development …show more content…
Because of gender division in toys, girls are most likely going to play with girl toys and boys play with boy toys- and boys and girls toys are not created equal. It’s clear that boys’ toys show strong, tough, brave characteristics whereas girls’ toys show delicate, gentle, soft characteristics- characteristics children learn that are supposed to reflect who they are. Limiting a child to only specific toys for their gender limits the influences that can create who they could become. Psychodynamic theorist Erik Erickson supports this idea through his Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. For example, if a child were to pick out a toy on their own and chose against their gender assigned toy gender they would feel guilty and shameful because they are going against societies rules. In Erikson’s second and third stage (toddler: autonomy v. shame/doubt and preschool: initiative v. guilt), children are encouraged to care and make decisions for themselves but negative responses (negative reinforcement) to them choosing this toy not assigned to their gender teaches the child that they are being bad even if the toy makes them happy which leads to guilt and shame. And this guilt and shame is damaging to the child’s development because it will make them insecure so they