Atypical gender development

Question 1

gender dysphoria

Answer 1

A condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because their biological sex doesn’t match their gender identity.

Diagnosed when this causes significant psychological distress or impairs everyday functioning

Question 2

Biological explanations

Answer 2

• Genetic factors
• Brain sex theory
• Cross wiring

Question 3

Brain sex theory

Answer 3

Suggests gender dysphoria is caused by differences in brain structure.

Zhou et al. (1995): Found the BSTc (in the hypothalamus) was the size of a typical female brain in male-to-female transgender individuals.

Suggests brain structure may not match biological sex

Question 4

Genetic factors

Answer 4

Some evidence of genetic influences on gender dysphoria.

Heylens et al. (2012): 39% concordance rate for gender dysphoria in MZ twins compared to 0% in DZ twins.

Suggests a possible genetic contribution

Question 5

Social Learning Explanation

Answer 5

Gender dysphoria may be learned through reinforcement and modelling.

Children may be encouraged or rewarded for cross-gender behaviour, leading to reinforced gender identity conflict

Question 6

Psychoanalytic Explanation

Answer 6

Based on Freud’s psychodynamic theory.

Gender dysphoria in males might result from extreme separation anxiety before gender identity is established.

The child fantasises a symbiotic relationship with the mother, adopting her gender identity

Question 7

Cognitive Explanation (Dual-Pathway Theory)

Answer 7

Gender schema pathway: Learning gender-appropriate behaviours.

Personal identity pathway: Personal interests override typical gender identity, potentially leading to gender dysphoria if there’s a conflict.

Question 8

strengths

Answer 8

✅ Accounts for environmental triggers
→ Example: Gender dysphoria sometimes linked to childhood trauma or absence of parental figures.

✅ Explains individual variation
→ Example: Acknowledges how unique life experiences shape gender identity

Question 9

limitations

Answer 9

❌ Lacks strong empirical support
→ Example: Much of the evidence is retrospective and anecdotal.

❌ Stigmatising implications
→ Example: Suggesting psychological damage as a cause can increase stigma