The document summarizes key cognitive theories of gender development: 1) Gender Schema Theory proposes that children develop mental frameworks for processing gender-related information from a young age. 2) Gender Constancy Theory suggests that children's perceptions of their own gender as stable develops between ages 3-4. 3) Later research found evidence supporting elements of both, finding that gender-based organization in memory increases with age as per Schema Theory, while same-sex preferences increase with developing Constancy. 4) The cognitive approach has been critiqued for ignoring biological influences and for potentially lacking real-world application today given changing social roles.