atypical gender development

Question 1

define gender dysphoria

Answer 1

individuals with gender dysphoria have strong feelings of identification with the opposite sex and accompyanying discomfort with their biologically assigned sex.
- those with GD may label themselves as transgender and have gender reassignment surgery

Question 2

explain 2 pieces of research about the genetic factors of atypical gender development

Answer 2

• Hare et al (2009) - There is evidence of a ‘transsexual gene’ – 112
  MtF transsexuals found to be more likely to have a longer variation
  of the androgen receptor gene. This is the gene which regulates
  the effect of testosterone, and causes a reduced effect of
  testosterone for these individuals.
  This is called under-masculinising the brain.
• Coolidge et al (2002) – 62% of variance when assessing twin pairs
  (MZ & DZ) for gender dysphoria is attributable to genes;

Question 3

describe the brain sex theory

Answer 3

• male and females’ brains are different
• Transgender individuals have the brain of the other gender
• BSTc = part of the brain in the thalamus; male size is twice as
  big as female – twice as many neurons
• Zhou et al. (1995) – MtF transgenders have BSTc neurons in
  line with female numbers, and FtM transgenders have BSTc
  neurons in line with male numbers