Biological Explanation for gender

Question 1

AO1

Question 2

Sex

Trigger words:
Including

Answer 2

The biological differences between males and females including chromosomes, hormomes an anatomy.

Question 3

Gender

Trigger words:
Psychological
Attitudes

Answer 3

The psychological and cultural differences between males an females including attitudes,behaviours and social roles

Question 4

Sex-role stereotypes

Trigger words:
A set
Ideas

Answer 4

A set of beliefs and preconceieved ideas about what is expected or appropraite for males and females in a given society

Question 5

Androgyny

Trigger words:

Displaying

Answer 5

Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in one’s personality

Question 6

Testosterone

Trigger word:
affects Development

Answer 6

A sex hormone that affects the development of genitalia and the puberty male secondary sex characteristics.

All humans have testosterone but it typically occurs in greater quantities in males bodies

Question 7

Oxytocin

Trigger words:
Promote

Answer 7

A hormone produced in the pituitary gland that is thought to promote feelings of bonding and calmness. In natal women it initiates lacation for breastfeeding.

Taylor et al (2003)

Question 8

Oestrogen

Trigger words:
Development
secondary

Answer 8

A sex hormone that affects the development of female secondary sex characteristics. Occurs in greater quantities in female bodies.

Question 9

Sex chromosomes

Trigger Words:
Determine
Direct

Answer 9

The pair of chromosomes that determine an individual’s biological sex. There is usually a direct link between chromosomal sex and external and internal genitalia.

Female = XX 
Male = XY

Question 10

Atypical Sex chromosome patterns

Answer 10

Klinefelter’s syndrome

Turner’s syndrome

Question 11

Klinefelter’s syndrome

Answer 11

Due to an XXY configuration. The individual is born with a penis and develops as fairly normal male. Found in 1 in 1,000 males

Question 12

Turner’s syndrome
Fem

Trigger words:
Early

Answer 12

Due to an XO configuration, meaning the second sex chromosomes is early or completely missing. Occur in 1 in 2,000 females at birth.

Question 13

4 Physical characteristics of Turner syndrome (In Women)

Trigger words:
Lower & Webber

Answer 13

• Do not have menstrual cycle
• Do not have breasts
• Lower set of ears and webber neck
• High waist to hip ratio

Question 14

4 Physical characteristics of Klinefelter’s Syndrome

Men

Trigger Words:

• Body hair
• boob
• undevelo
• health

Answer 14

• Reduced body hair when compared to an XY male
• Some breast development at puberty
• Undeveloped genitals
• Also susceptible to health problems that are commonly found in females such as breast cancer

Question 15

AO3 Evaluation and Discussion

Question 16

AO3 Evaluation

4 to remember for The role of chromosomes and hormones In Sex and Gender

Answer 16

Biological determinism
The importance of other factors
The role of culture and social influences
Real-world applications

Question 17

Biological Determinism.
AO3

John Money (1972)

Supported by Reiner and Gearhart (2004)

Answer 17

John Money (1972)

• Argued that that sex rearing was more important
• Recommended that intersex individuals such as David reimer could be successfully raised as either boy or girl.

Supported by Reiner and Gearhart (2004)

• Studied 16 genetic males born with almost no penis.
• 2 raised as males and remains as males.
• Remaining 14 were raised as females
• Of these 8 reassinged themselves as males by age 16

Question 18

Link sentence for Biological determinism

Answer 18

This research suggests that biological factors do have a key role in gender development.

Question 19

4 Psychological characteristics of Klinefelter’s syndrome (Male)
Trigger Words:

• Language
• introvert
• Stress
• Executive

Answer 19

• Poor developed language skills and reading ability
• Tend to be passive and shy
• May not respond well to stressful situations
• May often exhibit problems with ‘executive functions eg memory and problem solving

Question 20

Psychological characteristics of Turner’s syndrome

Trigger Words:

• Performance S,V,M & MA
• Socially
• Trouble relat
• Experience

Answer 20

• Performance on spatial, visual, memory and mathematical tasks is often lower than average.
• Tend to be socially immature
• Have trouble relating to their peers
• Experience difficulties fitting in

Question 21

The importance of other factors

Answer 21

Point = Some may argue that genes are not the only factor and that other factors are important too
Explain = Genetic sex foes not match external genitalia in cass of abnormal hormone exposure, even hormes do not produce a simple formula for establishing gender.
Evidence = Cogenital adrenal hyperplasia occurs when XX female have prenattly high levels of male horm resulting in varying degrees of external male genitialia.

Question 22

Importance of other factors Link sentence

Answer 22

This indicates that gender development must be in part biologivally determined (nature) but experience, personal qualities and socialisation (nuture) also have a key role.

Question 23

The role of culture and social influences
4 points in Evidence
2 Points in Explain

Answer 23

Point = One of the classic cases of abnormal gender development illustrates the role of culture

Evidence = A case that involved the Batsta family from the Dominican republic

• 4 children were born with external female genitalia and raised as girls
• Large amounts of testosterone produced during puberty = Caused male genitalia to appear externally.
• Kids were XXY

Explain = It has been suggested that the ease of transition from female to male highlights the importance of culture - in a community prepared to accept fluidity it seemed to br relatively easy to move between roles
- Something that is different in western cultures.

Question 24

The role of culture and social influences Link sentence

Answer 24

Link = This case not only shows how culture can shape gender development in terms of expectations but also illustrates the powerful effects of testosterone.

Question 25

The effect of hormones on brain development

Answer 25

Point = The effects of testosterone on brain development have been confirmed in experimental work with non-human animals

Evidence = Quadagno et al. (1977) found that female monkeys who were deliberatley exposef to testosterone during prenatal development later engaed more in rough-and-tumble play than other females.

• More agressive.
• May be issues with generalising

Explain = However, in another study Eisenegger et al. (2010) observed women playing bargaining game. The women believed they had been given a does of testosterone.

• Behaved in a more unfair manner than those who belived they were given placebo.
• Thereby demonstrating the effect of expectations

Question 26

The effect of hormones on brain development Link sentence

Answer 26

This research suggests that hormones may influence brain development and human behaviour, but the relationship is not a simple one.