Social Learning Theory (Sociology)

The main way that gender behaviors are learned is through the process of observational learning wherein children learn from observing the people or images of people around them behaving in various ways. During these observations of the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward others, they are internalizing what it means culturally, to be a female or male in society. Generally most children spend most of the day at preschools, or school institutions where they observe their peers and mimic their behavior. This is also an easy place to observe the consequences of one of their peers disobeying and getting sanctioned. This is where the children get to interpret some of those behaviors as being appropriate for females and males. Take a look at this picture, most of the little girls have on dresses, can you imagine if a little boy wanted to wear a dress, that would be kinda cool to see, actually, if that is what they desire. This reinforcement is the process of encouraging or establishing a belief or pattern of behavior, especially by encouragement and reward. Whereas, punishment is the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense. This is where behaviors will most likely occur or stop occurring.