Social roles theory

Social Roles Theory argues that boys and girls, as well as men and women, learn to behave in gender-specific ways due to social and environmental cues. These cues, which can be both explicit and implicit, inform individuals about what is expected of them based on their gender. For instance, girls might be encouraged to be more communal and nurturing, while boys might be taught to be more agentic and dominant. This learning process involves observing and imitating others, often reinforced through societal norms and expectations 1.

According to David Geary, this theory suggests that people are essentially blank slates from a psychological standpoint and develop these roles through social learning. However, Geary believes the impact of social roles is often overstated, noting that there are inherent differences in interests and behaviors between boys and girls that are not solely derived from social influences. For example, boys are naturally drawn to activities and toys that involve physical motion, which align with their interest in what's called "folk physics," while girls tend to focus more on faces and details 1.