Question

In Chapter 6, we discussed how operant conditioning and observational learning can shape behavior. How might these two processes contribute to individuals’ understanding of

sexual scripts, including the double standard for men and women?

Answer 1

• Both operant conditioning and observational learning contribute to our understanding of the double standards that exist for men and women.Our media is flooded with images of male and female sexuality that provide us with models to observe all of the socially proscribed sexual scripts and double standards which encourages male sexuality and discourages female sexuality.
• Through movies and television shows we observe that,when an individual fails to conform with societal norms,for instance,if a girl who doesnt get a partner because of her physical appearance,gets transformed and matches with the unrealistic beauty standards of our society,she gets the the best looking boy in college.This type of model represented,leads to young teenagers observing them and suffering low self esteem issues and negative body image issues leading to depression in them.They observe these unrealistic beauty standards and get influenced adversely,especially in girls.
• In this example,we see operant condtioning principle working as well.The quest for finding the best boyfriend in college becomes the reinforcer for girls,to make themselves beautiful and appear physicaly attractive,and this behaviour keeps getting strengthened as the girl doesnt want her good looking boyfriend to leave her,incase she stops looking attractive.
• Through operant conditioning and observational learning,we internalize expectations for our gender roles and act in ways that are most likely to be reinforced or rewarded by others.
• Female gender roles want them to look beautiful and attractive,and so many young girls internalize these unrealistic expectations from them, and start falling prey to beauty treatments and getting body image issues to always look good as they start fearing others judgments.
• Male gender roles always want them to be strong and not be sensitive to express their emotions so they internalize it and make themselves not cry in situations,because it would make them "less of a man".This toxic masculinity is another example of double standards,that men are not supposed to cry but women can.