Biological Explanations Flashcards
What is the biological gender of a baby determined by?
Chromosomes
How many pairs of chromosomes does an embryo have?
23
What is each pair of chromosomes made up of?
An ovum and a sperm
What does the 23rd pair of chromosomes determine?
The sex of the baby
What gives the embryo the X chromosome?
The ovum
What chromosome does the ovum give the foetus?
X
What chromosome can the sperm give?
An X or Y chromosome
What chromosome pair makes a girl?
XX
What chromosome pair makes a boy?
XY
What sex do XY chromosomes make?
A boy
What sex do XX chromosomes make?
A girl
When do the genes prompt the gonads to become sexual organs?
Around 6 weeks after conception
What prompts the gonads?
Genes
What do the genes prompt?
Gonads
What happens at around 6 weeks after conception?
The genes prompt the gonads to become either testes or ovaries
What are the types of sexual organs?
Ovaries and testes
What happens in XY foetuses around 6 weeks after conception?
The testes begin to release testosterone
What happens when testosterone begins to be released?
It stimulates the development of male internal organs and leads to increased development in the right hemisphere of the brain
What happens without the influence of testosterone?
This happens in the XX embryo and it begins to develop female characteristics
What piece of evidence relates to genes?
David Reimer
Explain the case of David Reimer…
After a surgical error David’s parents decided to raise him as a girl. Despite their efforts, she never fitted in and preferred playing with boys toys. On discovery of the truth of his biological sex he decided to reassign his gender as male.
What are the biological explanations of gender?
Genes
Hormones - testosterone and oestrogen
What does the case of David Reimer tell us about the influence of genes on gender…
That genes have a greater influence over hormones and social influence. This is apparent because his parents efforts to raise him as a girl failed. Also because he had his testicals removed, this meaning he was unable to produce testosterone. If hormones had a greater influence than genes you would have expected David to have not had make urges.
Why can’t we be sure David’s findings are reliable?
Because this is a case study meaning it is highly unlikely/impossible this situation would arise again so the results cannot be replicated. David’s experience may be an anomaly and others in the situation may have been more influenced by hormones. Also, extraneous variables cannot be controlled, this may have had a great impact on David who had a difficult family life and a schizophrenic twin.
What leads to increased development in the right hemisphere of the brain?
Release of testosterone
What is the right hemisphere associated with?
Visual-spatial processing
What develops less quickly in XY foetuses?
The left hemisphere of the brain
Which area of the left hemisphere develops particularly slower?
Wernicke’s area
What is the left hemisphere of the brain associated with?
Verbal abilities
How does the hormonal influence affect biological females?
They develop brains that give them better language skills
How does the hormonal influence affect biological males?
They develop better spatial skills
What is one consistent finding across many cultures?
The universal behaviour of boys spending more time in rough and tumble play than girls
What studies are relevant to testosterone?
Young et al
Money and Ehrhardt
What were the findings of young et als study?
Female monkeys who were exposed to make hormones when in the uterus engaged in my rough and tumble play than the control group.
Evaluation points for young et al’s study…
Animal study - can’t generalise results due to differences in biology
What were Money and Ehrhardt’s findings?
Females exposed to make hormones in the womb engaged in more rough and tumble play then the control group
What commentary is relevant to testosterone?
A discussion of congenital adrenal hyperplasia
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
A genetic disorder that leads to unusually high levels of testosterone being produced by the adrenal gland, this started before the baby is born and in girls often leads to having partially masculinised genitalia
What have studies of girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia revealed?
Girls with this disorder play in a more boyish way and engage in rough and tumble play and often have very good spatial skills even though their parents raise them as girls
What do the findings of studies on CAH girls suggest?
That high levels of pre-natal androgens influencers their behaviour to be masculine rather than socialisation.
What do studies findings suggest about levels of oestrogen?
That there is a link between levels of oestrogen and verbal abilities
What studies support the theories of oestrogen and verbal abilities?
Van Goozen et al
What were Van Goozen et al’s findings?
They found that after a course of 12 weeks of taking oestrogen and anti-androgens transsexual men’s scores on verbal fluency improved whilst they’re visual-spatial skill deteriorated
What debates are relevant to this theory?
Determinism and socially sensitive
Explain the socially sensitive debate…
This theory suggests men and women are biologically better at certain things which could lead to problems in society such as discrimination. An employer may choose a female for a job which requires verbal skills based on this, when in fact there may be a better suited make. Obviously this is unacceptable which is why in this country we have legislation such as the equality act 2010 in place.
Explain the deterministic debate…
It claims the way we behave is innate and we have no choice over it. As a result, those with higher levels of testosterone may try to blame their aggressive behaviour on their hormones which is clearly unacceptable and why this is not a valid excuse in court.
