Sex-Related Comparisons: Theory 177
Box B: This box represents whether a
gender schema is activated in the fa-
ther’s mind. A recent event could ac-
tivate a gender schema. For example,
on the way to the day care, the father
could have heard a story on the news
about differences in social abilities be-
tween boys and girls. Attributes of the
daughter or the situation could acti-
vate a gender schema. Is his daughter
dressed quite differently from the boys
at the day care? Is she wearing a pink
Box A: This box represents the father’s
beliefs about women and men, that is,
whether he is gender schematic and
holds gender-role stereotypes, specifi-
cally about the toys that are appropri-
ate for a girl to play with. As the father
gets to know the daughter more, he will
be less likely to rely on gender-role ste-
reotypes (category-based information)
and more likely to respond to target-
based information (the attributes of his
daughter).
FIGURE 5.12 Deaux and Major’s (1987) model of social interaction for gender-related behavior.
This model explains how the perceiver, the target, and the situation determine whether sex differences
in behavior are displayed in a given situation.
Source: Deaux and Major (1987).
Self-System
of Target
Self Interprets
Perceiver’s
Actions
Self
Acts
Self Interprets
Own Action
Activation of
Gender-Related
Self-Schema
Perceiver’s
Gender Belief
System
Perceiver
Acts Toward
Target
Perceiver
Interprets
Target’s Action
Activation of
Gender-Related
Schema
Target
Attributes
Situational
Cues
Modifying Conditions
Characteristics of the Expectancy
Concerns with Self-Presentation
or Self-Verification
- Social desirability
- Certainty
- Situational context
A B C I
D E F G J
H
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