According to gender schema theory, gender-typing occurs when children:

• A. actively organize information about gender into mental categories and use these schemas to guide their behavior
• B. passively imitate the behaviors of same-gender adults without internal cognitive processing
• C. are biologically predisposed to prefer toys and activities associated with their assigned sex
• D. learn gender roles only through direct reinforcement and punishment from parents

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that gender schema theory focuses on how children actively process and organize information about gender, rather than passively receiving it.
2. Recognize that according to this theory, children create mental frameworks or 'schemas' about what behaviors, activities, and roles are appropriate for their gender.
3. Note that these schemas influence how children interpret information and guide their own behavior to align with their gender identity.
4. Contrast this with other explanations such as passive imitation, biological predispositions, or reinforcement, which do not emphasize active cognitive organization.
5. Conclude that gender-typing, according to gender schema theory, occurs when children actively organize gender-related information into schemas and use these to guide their behavior.