Atypical gender development Flashcards
What is gender identity disorder?
Psychiatric condition listed in DSM-V. Individuals experience a sense of gender dysphoria because they have strong, persistent feelings of identification with the opposite gender and discomfort with their own.
Name biological explanations of GID.
Brain sex theory
Transsexual gene
What does brain sex theory suggest about GID?
Caused by specific brain structures that are incompatible with a person’s biological sex.
What is the key area in the brain associated with gender and GID?
BSTc located in the thalamus.
What did Zhou et al find in his study of GID and the BSTc?
BSTc 40% larger in heterosexual men than women, and contain twice has many neurons. Neurons in BSTc of male to female transsexuals are similar to a woman’s. Neurons in female to male transexuals are similar to a man’s.
What did Hare et al find in his study into DNA and GID?
112 MtF transsexuals. Longer version of the androgen receptor than the control sample. This causes less testosterone in the brain - under-masculising the brain.
List social explanations of GID.
Mother-son relationships
Father-daughter relationships
Mental illness
Explain how mother-son relationships lead to GID.
Interviews with GID males displayed overly close mother-son relationships. Leads to greater female identification and confused gender identity.
Explain how father-daughter relationships lead to GID.
Severe parental rejection in childhood of female to male transsexuals. May unconsciously think if they become male, they will be accepted by their father.
Explain how mental illness can lead to GID.
GID caused by childhood trauma or poor upbringing. Case study of a boy whose mother suffered depression. at 3 years old (key stage in gender development) the trauma may have lead to cross-gender fantasy to relieve anxiety.
(AO3) Explain a weakness of the BSTc explanation of GID.
BSTc volume doesn’t develop until latter parts of childhood. Most transsexuals report gender dysphoria feelings in early childhood. So the BSTc findings may be due to hormone treatment - therefore an effect of GID and not a cause.
(AO3) Explain support for the social explanations of GID.
115 boys with concerns over gender. 64% boys diagnosed with GID also had separation anxiety disorder. Therefore, distorted attachment to mother is a factor in GID, showing importance of upbringing and mental health.
(AO3) Explain why theories of GID are oversimplified.
Biological explanations reduce complex phenomenon down to genetic, neural and hormonal level. Ignores higher psychological level influences that may be important. Social models overly focus on mental health and parent-child relationships. Suggests an interactionist combination of different explanations is needed.
(AO3) Explain why GID research is socially sensitive.
If a biological cause is identified, society will be more accepting of transsexuals. However, if a biological cause is identified, transsexualism may be viewed as inevitable in certain individuals - impacting those with abnormal brain structures who may otherwise have developed normally. Research needs to be approached empathetically, following ethical guidelines with publication considering impact on society.
