A03 role of chromosomes + hormones in sex and gender a03

Question 1

strength

Answer 1

research support

• support role of hormones in development of sex and gender as he studied transgender individuals undergoing hormone therapy and found a direct link of the hormones and impact of behaviour
• established cause and effect

Question 2

limitation

Answer 2

• too much emphasis on role of nature
• although social learning theory states you can be socialised into being a male or female, the real life case study of David Reiner refutes this as he went back to his biological sex
• biological explanation (nature) can not easily explain cross cultural differences and is therefore biologically reductionist, ignores role of nurture

Question 3

strength 2

Answer 3

real life case study- David Reimer

• One twin had accident during circumcision surgery, doctor said to bring him up as a little girl has doctor believed that children could be socialised to become a particular gender, David found out truth and return to biological sex, psychologically and emotionally scarred by this experience and committed suicide
• strength because it supports the role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender
• anatomy is destiny so role of nature is more important than nurture
• it is an ideographic case study so generalisation is not possible