Atypical Gender Development

Question 1

Define GID (gender identity disorder)

Answer 1

Identify more with the opposite gender than the one born with

Question 2

Study to support biological explanation

Answer 2

Zhou et al. 1995

1. Studied bed nucleus of stria terminals which are 40% larger in men
2. Post mortem of six male -> female found BST was closer to size of females
3. Supported with 2000 study on 6 with neurones instead of volume

Question 3

Contradictory evidence for BST

Answer 3

1. It is claimed the BTS is fully formed at 5
2. Pol et al. (2006) found hormone therapy did affect size of BST
3. Therefore differences may be due to hormones rather than cause GID

Question 4

Cognitive explanation to GID

Answer 4

Bigler (2002)

1. Extension of gender schema theory called dual pathway theory
2. Children’s personal interest dominant over gender schema
3. Leads to development of non-sex typed schema, leading to GID

Question 5

Issue with cognitive theory

Answer 5

1. Descriptive rather than explanatory

2. No explanation as to why the child engages in other-sex behaviour or how this develops a non-sex schema

Question 6

Problems with biological explications in general

Answer 6

1. Tend to reduce complex conditions and behaviours to genetic/ hormonal level
2. Ignores other factors occurring at a higher ‘psychological’ level
3. Internationalist approach takes all factors into account