biological theory- hormones and chromosomes

Question 1

A01

what are the chromosomal structures for males and females?

Answer 1

males= XY
females= XX

Question 2

A01

how does the Y chromosome determine the embroyo’s sex?

Answer 2

Y chromosome carries gene called Sex Determing Region Y ‘SRY’ which causes testes to develop XY embroyo

Question 3

A01

which hormone causes the embroyo to become male?

Answer 3

produced by testes-> androgens
most widley known-> tesoesterone produced pre-natally

Question 4

A01

how do oestrogen and testoerone influence gender development?

Answer 4

physical changes eg sexual characteristics + menstruation
- testoerone= linked to aggression, controls develop of male sex organs
- oestrogen= heightened emotionality + irritability on periods (PMS)

Question 5

A01

how does oxytocin affect gender development in men and women?

Answer 5

• women= during birth/labour oxytocin stimulates lactation, reduces cortisol, faciliates bonding where feel in love with baby. more emotional
• men= during kissing + sexual intercourse oxytocin is produced.

Question 6

A03

what research support is there (2)?

Answer 6

• CAH-> genetic disorder cuasing prenatal levels of male hormones (tes), newborn girls ambigious genitals due to masculising effects. girls described as tomboys + higher agg.
• David Reimer-> bodged circumcision, left without penis, raised as stereotypical female, dressed in girl clothes + toys. never adjusted as being female, psycho problems, found out= went back to male but kill self.
  Overall-> biology influences gender, wealth of research= reliable.

CAH-> self report= overexaggerate and look for behaviours classed as boysterious
David-> case study, extremely unique, cannot generalise

Question 7

A03

what contradictory research is there?

Answer 7

• O’Connor
• double blind study increasing testosterone levels in men, no significant increase in frequency of sexual intervouse/sex drive + no change in aggression
• additional testoestrone may have no effect on sexual/aggressive behaviour

Question 8

A03

how is it biologically reductionist?

Answer 8

• ignores role of social factors eg family/ gender roles around world more of consequence of social norms than biology
• ignores alternative/higher levels of explanations, cog would draw attention to schemas
• eg Samoa fafafine culture socialises into gender
• ignores influence of nurture