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The cost of social influence: Own-gender and gender-stereotype social learning biases in adolescents and adults

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  • Sheila J Cunningham
  • Jacqui Hutchison
  • Natalie Ellis
  • Ivana Hezelyova
  • Lara A Wood

Abstract

Pervasive gender gaps in academic subject and career choices are likely to be underpinned by social influences, including gender stereotypes of competence in academic and career domains (e.g., men excel at engineering, women excel at care), and model-based social learning biases (i.e., selective copying of particular individuals). Here, we explore the influence of gender stereotypes on social learning decisions in adolescent and adult males and females. Participants (Exp 1: N = 69 adolescents; Exp 2: N = 265 adults) were presented with 16 difficult multiple-choice questions from stereotypically feminine (e.g., care) and masculine (e.g., engineering) domains. The answer choices included the correct response and three incorrect responses paired with a male model, a female model, or no model. Participants’ gender stereotype knowledge and endorsement were measured, and adolescents (Exp. 1) listed their academic subject choices. As predicted, there was a bias towards copying answers paired with a model (Exp.1: 74%, Exp. 2: 65% ps

Suggested Citation

  • Sheila J Cunningham & Jacqui Hutchison & Natalie Ellis & Ivana Hezelyova & Lara A Wood, 2023. "The cost of social influence: Own-gender and gender-stereotype social learning biases in adolescents and adults," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(8), pages 1-24, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0290122
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290122
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ángel V. Jiménez & Alex Mesoudi, 2019. "Prestige-biased social learning: current evidence and outstanding questions," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. repec:plo:pone00:0007252 is not listed on IDEAS
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