"This Is What a Mechanic Sounds Like": Children's Vocal Control Reveals Implicit Occupational Stereotypes.
Valentina Cartei1, Jane Oakhill1, Alan Garnham1
1School of Psychology, University of Sussex.
Psychological Science
|July 9, 2020
Summary
Children implicitly stereotype occupations based on gender, adjusting their voices to match perceived gender norms. This vocal adaptation, observed in children aged 5-10, strengthens with age and is independent of explicit stereotypes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Speech and Hearing Sciences
Background:
- Occupational stereotypes are prevalent and can influence children's perceptions.
- Implicit biases develop early and may manifest in non-verbal cues.
- Vocal characteristics are often associated with gender, influencing social perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate implicit occupational stereotyping in children using vocal cues.
- To examine how children adapt their voices to gender-stereotyped occupations.
- To assess the relationship between age, gender, and vocal shifts in occupational imitation.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-two children (ages 5-10) participated in an imitation task.
- Children were asked to voice descriptions of traditionally male, female, and gender-neutral occupations.
- Vocal parameters (pitch, resonance) were analyzed for shifts aligning with gender stereotypes.
Main Results:
- Children modulated their voices (masculinizing/feminizing pitch and resonance) to match occupational gender stereotypes.
- The magnitude of vocal shifts increased with age, particularly in boys.
- These implicit vocal adjustments were not correlated with children's explicit stereotype endorsement.
Conclusions:
- Children exhibit implicit occupational-gender stereotyping through vocal modifications.
- Vocal pitch serves as a potential indicator of implicit occupational-gender bias in children.
- Findings suggest early development of gendered occupational expectations reflected in vocal behavior.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Auditory Perception
884
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
884
01:30Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
1.5K
A thorough assessment of respiratory health is paramount in clinical settings to identify and manage respiratory distress and ensure adequate oxygenation. This article elaborates on the critical aspects of respiratory evaluation, including airway assessment, skin color examination, and the observation of accessory muscle use, which are integral to effectively diagnosing and managing patients with respiratory conditions.
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
1.5K
01:21Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
806
The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
806
02:09Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
41.8K
When we hold a stereotype about a person, we have expectations that he or she will fulfill that stereotype. A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation held by a person that alters his or her behavior in a way that tends to make it true. When we hold stereotypes about a person, we tend to treat the person according to our expectations. This treatment can influence the person to act according to our stereotypic expectations, thus confirming our stereotypic beliefs. Research by Rosenthal and...
41.8K
02:16Stereotype Content Model
15.2K
The Stereotype Content Model (SCM) was first proposed by Susan Fiske and her colleagues (Fiske, Cuddy, Glick & Xu, 2002; see also Fiske, 2012 and Fiske, 2017). The SCM specifies that when someone encounters a new group, they will stereotype them based on two metrics: warmth—or that group’s perceived intent, and how likely they are to provide help or inflict harm—and competence—or their ability to carry out that objective. Depending on the warmth-competence...
15.2K
01:21Larynx
3.6K
The human larynx, often referred to as the voice box, is an intricate organ located in the neck. It serves as a pathway for air to enter the lungs during respiration and is an essential component of voice production.
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids,...
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids,...
3.6K