Which theory explains the formation of gender roles based on individual experiences over time?

Gender schema theory is an influential perspective that elaborates on how individuals come to understand and internalize the concepts of gender based on their experiences and interactions throughout their lives. This theory posits that from an early age, individuals develop cognitive frameworks—called schemas—that help them organize information related to gender. These schemas are constructed through personal experiences, cultural, and social inputs, allowing individuals to categorize behavior, traits, and roles as "appropriate" for either gender.

According to this theory, as children grow, they observe societal norms and expectations regarding gender, which inform their beliefs about what it means to be male or female. They then utilize these gender schemas to make sense of their own experiences and the world around them, influencing their decisions, behaviors, and even career choices in accordance with those learned roles. Over time, this ongoing process impacts their understanding of gender and shapes the roles they assume.

In contrast, the other theories mentioned do not focus primarily on the individual's experiential learning in relation to gender roles. Gender determination theory, for example, tends to emphasize biological factors; gender performance theory is more about the enactment of gender roles in specific contexts; and gender evolution theory looks at how evolutionary processes influence gender roles rather than experiences over time. Thus, gender schema