Evaluating the role of hormones Flashcards
What is a chromosome?
Structures of nucleic acids and proteins found in the nucleus of most living cells that contain genetic information
What are hormones?
Chemical messengers that are released into the bloodstream from glands
What is testosterone?
A steroid hormone that stimulated the development of secondary male sex characteristics
What is oestrogen?
A group of steroid hormones which promoted the development and maintenance of female characteristics in the body
What is oxytocin?
A polypeptide hormone which acts as a neurotransmitter that controls key aspects of the reproductive system
Why is the fact that much of the research on the role of hormones in sex and gender is conducted on animals a weakness?
The extent to which the research can be generalised to humans is debatable. The physiology of humans and animals like rats and mice, especially in terms of brain functioning are very different and human development and behaviour are much more subject to social and cultural differences
Why are animal studies often conducted rather than human ones and what is the issue with this?
Animal studies often conducted when it wouldn’t be ethical to experiment on humans however ethical concerns are raised with animal experiments such as with Van Leengoed et al’s study which delayed maternal care for infants
How are unethical studies often justified?
In terms of cost-benefit analysis, for example, when such research leads to useful practical applications
What is an over simplistic view of hormones?
That testosterone is a male hormone and oestrogen and oxytocin are female hormones as research shows that all three exert important influences on both males and females
What else is simplistic?
To perceive single hormones as having exclusive effects upon sex and gender. Hormones are often part of biological mechanisms that exert multi-faceted and complex actions upon the body and behaviour
What is a main difficulty of researching the role of hormones on sex and gender in humans?
Doing so in a non-invasive way. However White-Traut et al measured salivary hormonal levels offered such a method, as long as baseline measurements are established so that comparisons can be made after hormone levels are manipulated.
