Which theory argues that societal expectations and modeling influence the development of gender concepts?

• A. Social-Cognitive Theory
• B. Psychodynamic Theory
• C. Information-Processing Model
• D. Biopsychology

Answer: (A)

Societal expectations and modeling shape how we form ideas about gender through observational learning. Social-Cognitive Theory posits that people learn about gender by watching others—parents, peers, media, and cultural norms—then imitate what they see and adjust beliefs based on the reactions and consequences those behaviors receive. This learning is reinforced or discouraged by the environment, and individuals also influence their surroundings, creating a continuous loop of influence known as reciprocal determinism. In this view, gender concepts emerge from the combination of modeled behavior, observed outcomes, and personal interpretation, rather than just internal drives or information processing alone. By contrast, psychodynamic theory emphasizes unconscious motives and early conflicts; the information-processing model focuses on how we encode and retrieve information; and biopsychology centers on biology and brain processes.