Atypical gender development - gender dysphoria Flashcards
What is gender dysphoria
a psychiatric condition, a mismatch between a person’s biological sex and their gender identity
How do people with gender dysphoria feel
anxiety, distress, depression, self harm, suicidal
What behaviours would a person with gender dysphoria show
cross dress
use mannerisms of the opposite gender
gender reassignment surgery
When does gender dysphoria occur
in childhood, for the majority it doesn’t persist after puberty
Under what circumstances is gender dysphoria diagnosed
no physical intersex condition
must cause significant distress or impairment in functioning
In what ratio does gender dysphoria affect men to women
5:1 (men:women)
Name the four biological explanations to gender dysphoria
- the transsexual gene
- the brain sex theory
- phantom limb and cross wiring
- pesticides
How can the transsexual gene explain gender dysphoria
males with gender dysphoria have a longer version of the androgen receptor gene which reduces the action of testosterone meaning the gene failed to masculinise the brain
What gene is involved in the transsexual gene explanation of gender dysphoria
androgen receptor gene which reduces the action of testosterone
How can brain sex theory explain gender development
male and female brains are different and transsexual’s brains match that of their preferred sex more than biological sex
What is the name for male and female brain areas being different
dimorphic
What region of the brain is studied under brain sex theory
BSTc
What is the difference in the BSTc between men and women
BSTc is twice as large and has twice the number of neurons in men than women
How can phantom limb and cross wiring explain gender development
gender dysphoria is an innate form of phantom limb syndrome where the sex organs of the opposite preferred gender is hardwired into the brain
What do 2/3 of FtM transsexuals report the sensation of
phantom penis and phantom erections
How does cross wiring apply to gender dysphoria in simple terms
males feels they should not have a penis, females think they should
How can pesticides explain gender dysphoria
pesticide DDT contains oestrogens meaning males are prenatally exposed to high levels of female hormones
Which specific pesticide is the basis of the pesticide explanation of gender dysphoria
DDT
Name the four social explanations of gender dysphoria
- mental illness
- mother son relationships
- father daughter relationships
- operant conditioning
how can mental illness explain gender dysphoria
childhood trauma or maladaptive upbringing linked to mental illness can influence the likelihood of gender dysphoria
who provides a study for how mental illness can explain gender dysphoria
coates
what did Coates find in his study
- produced a case history of a boy who developed GD proposing it was a defensive reaction to the boy’s mother’s depression when he was 3 (=when a child is sensitive to gender issues)
how can mother-son relationships explain gender dysphoria
an overly close relationship to their mother leads to greater female identification and confused gender identity
who provides a study to support mother son relationships explaining gender dysphoria
stroller
what did stroller find in his study
men with GD displayed overly close and enmeshed relationships with their mothers = emotionally have same experiences
how can father daughter relationships explain gender dysphoria
daughters think that if they became male they might gain acceptance from their father (fTm transsexuals)
who provides evidence for father daughter relationships as an explanation for gender dysphoria
Zucker
what did Zucker find in his study
in FtM transexuals, females identify as male because of severe parental rejection in early childhood
how can operant conditioning explain gender dysphoria
GD is learn by individuals being reinforced for exhibiting cross gender behaviour - causing a conflict for the child between sex and gender identity
