Atypical gender development

Question 1

What does the DSM-V classify it as

Answer 1

gender dysphoria (mismatch between biological sex and the gender they feel they are)

Question 2

Stats in the UK

Answer 2

M>F:F>M= 5:1

Question 3

Diagnosis points for gender dysphoria

Answer 3

Affects the ability to function with everyday life
Sense of discomfort with biological sex
Ongoing identification with opposite sex
No biological disorder at the same time
Symptoms for 6 months
Children but be able to verbalise.

Question 4

biological explainations

Answer 4

Brain sex theory
Phantom-limb (cross wiring)
Evidence from amputations

Question 5

Brain sex theory

Answer 5

GD is caused by physical structures of the brain not matching typical structures of the brain
Looks at dimorphic areas
BTSC is found in the thalamus and is 40% larger in males.

Question 6

Brain sex theory research

Answer 6

Zhou (post mortems in M>F)
BSTC similar size to cisgender women which suggests a female brain in a mens body

Question 7

Brain sex theory limitation

Answer 7

Suggests that BSTC cannot be effected by hormones as it is fixed. Hulshoff pol et al. found hormone therapy affects the size of BSTC so causation is an issue.

Question 8

Phantom limb

Answer 8

Ramachandran suggets GD is a form of phantom limb syndrome but for genitalia

Question 9

Phantom Limb research support

Answer 9

2/3 of F>M report phantom penis sensation from childhood.

Question 10

Phantom limb strengths

Answer 10

Evidence from amputations
60% of men without GD who have penis amputations experience phantom penis, 30% of M>F do.

Question 11

Genetic explanations

Answer 11

Evidence shows that a longer version of the androgen receptor in M>F transexuals may reduce prenatal testosterone causing under-masculinised brains in the foetus.

Question 12

Genetic explainations research support

Answer 12

Heylins found that 9/23 MZ twins had a co twin with GD, (0/21 for DZ twins.)

Question 13

Genetic explainations limitations

Answer 13

Twin studies cannot split nature/ nurture and small sample sizes make it hard to genderalise.

Question 14

Biological explainations general evaluation

Answer 14

Reductionist- presence of higher factors like interaction with environment are disregarded.

Question 15

Psychological explainations

Answer 15

Cognitive explainations, mother/son relationships.

Question 16

Cognitive explanations

Answer 16

Dual pathway theory
Children choose non-gender stereotyped behaviours which can lead to androgyny or GD. e.g boy playing with a doll.

Question 17

Cognitive explanations limitation

Answer 17

Descriptive and not explanatory so doesn’t tell us why only some people get GD and others are androgynous.

Question 18

Mother-son relationships (psychosocial)

Answer 18

GD in males is due to separation anxiety before GI is established. Child fantasises of symbolic fusion with his mother to relieve anxiety of separation, child adopts a female gender identity to become at one with their mother.

Question 19

Mother-son relationships research support

Answer 19

Zucker- 115 GD boys, 64% also diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder.

Question 20

Mother- son relationships limitation

Answer 20

Cannot explain F>M individuals and the unconscious cannot be tested.