Evaluation of freuds explanation of gender development

Question 1

Weakness regarding other factors?

Answer 1

• It ignores other factors which influence gender and so is a reductionist theory
• such as the biological approach which has scientific evidence that genes and hormones play an important part
• The learning approach shows that children are reinforced for gender-appropriate behavior

Question 2

why do many psychologists such as Green doubt the existence of the Oedipus and Electra complex?

Answer 2

He studied 37 children being raised in non-traditional households and found they all developed their gender along traditional lines none of them showing signs of homosexuality
-This challenges Freud’s account of gender development because they could not go through the stages of the Oedipus and Electra complex

Question 3

How does Hans support?

Answer 3

• Demonstrated his behavior was consistent with the Oedipus complex such as wanting to sleep in his mothers bed and being respectful to his father
• His behavior changed as he left the phallic stage when he had resolved the issue associated with it

Question 4

How does Melanie Klein support?

Answer 4

Found that children do show a strong opposite sex parent preference consistent with the Oedipus complex

Question 5

How does Melanie Klein refute?

Answer 5

She found the preferences to the opposite sex parents occurred at a much younger age than Freud stated (Younger than those in the Phallic stage)

Question 6

Strength regarding usefulness?

Answer 6

It provides many practical ad useful ways n which we can better understand and even help children

• Such as Freud’s emphasis on needing both opposite sex parental figures
• Play therapy which is based on his approach has been found to be useful by other psychologists such as Axline in helping withdrawn children

Question 7

Weakness regarding scientific evidence?

Answer 7

• There is a lack of scientific evidence because the unconscious mind can only be analysed using symbolic nature
• The data is therefore highly subjective
• So main source of evidence for Freud’s theory’s comes from case studies which we have to be careful generalizing because the participant in the study may be unique and not representative of other children