Atypical Sex Chromosome Patterns

Question 1

Klinefelter’s Syndrome - Background Knowledge

Answer 1

• Bio males w/ additional X chromosome (XXY)
• About 1 in 600
• 10% identified prenatally but up to 66% unaware of it

Question 2

Physical Characteristics of Klinefelter’s (XXY)

Answer 2

• reduced body hair
• breast development at puberty (gynaecomastia)
• underdeveloped genitals
• more susceptible to health problems associated with females

Question 3

Psychological Symptoms of Klinefelter’s (XXY)

Answer 3

• Poor language + reading skills
• passive and shy
• don’t respond well in stressful situations
• poor executive function

Question 4

Turner’s Syndrome - Background knowledge

Answer 4

Absence of 1 X => resulting in 45 instead of 46 chromosomes
- 1 in 5000 females have it

Question 5

Physical Characteristics of Turner’s

Answer 5

• no menstrual cycle as ovaries don’t develop
• broad chest and no breast development at puberty
• low set ears + webbed neck
• hips aren’t much bigger than waist

Question 6

Psychological Characteristics of Turners

Answer 6

• higher than average reading ability
• lower than average spatial, memory and maths performance
• tend to be social immature

Question 7

(S) Contributes to nature-nurture debate

Answer 7

• comparing atypical + typical individuals highlights differences e.g in X higher reading skills
• can infer differences have bio basis (direct effect of abnormal chromosomes)

Suggests => innate nature influences have big effect on psychology + behaviour

Question 8

COUNTER - behaviour diffs may result from social influences

Answer 8

Social immaturity in Turner’s could be due to treatment based on immature appearance

Shows - would be wrong to assume differences in people w/ atypical chromosomes are due to nature

Question 9

(S) Its application to managing the conditions - Herlihy et al

Answer 9

more research => more accurate and earlier diagnoses + positive outcomes

• study of 87 individuals w/ Klinefelter’s showed being identified w/ it benefitted when managing symptoms

Suggests => increases awareness of conditions has real world applications

Question 10

(L) Sampling issues - only most severe in sample - Boada et al (‘09)

Answer 10

prospective studies show majority w/ klinefelter’s don’t have cog or psych issues + are highly successful

Suggests - typical picture of XXY (and X) is exaggerated

Question 11

Extra- Knowing or not knowing?

Answer 11

Knowing => self fulfilling prophecy as they may try less hard if they expect to have certain difficulties

Not knowing => child may feel their differences are their fault + not get medical/psych support needed

Suggests - benefits of knowing may outweigh potential negative effects on self concept