What do Children Learn from their Parents and what from their Grandparents? Changes in the Perception of Gender and Family Roles as Seen from the Developmental Perspective.

Abstract

The main objective of this presentation is to show changes in common knowledge concerning the intergenerational transmission of knowledge, values and skills in the family system, from the stand point of developmental perspective. The research was based on the cognitive-structural approach. The research focused on beliefs of both children and adults on the intergenerational transmission of personality traits and specific activities associated with gender roles (both male and female) and roles in the family, i.e. the stereotypical assigning of certain values and skills to the generation of parents and grandparents. The survey covered 200 respondents who were classified into five age groups (with the distinction of sex), ranging from the pre-school period up to middle adulthood. The diagnostic-poll method was used. Interview techniques and the enquiry form were applied, a questionnaire designed by the author inclusive. The qualitative and quantitative analyses was carried out. The results suggest that the age and sex of the respondents has a significant impact on their knowledge about the content of intergenerational communications. This will surely contribute to skilful design of educational programmes in this area.