Gender 6 | Atypical gender development: Flashcards
AO1 - What is gender dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria is a condition where an individual experiences distress due to a mismatch between their gender identity and their biological sex.
AO1 - What are the two main explanations for gender dysphoria?
The two main explanations are biological explanations (such as brain structure differences and genetic factors) and social explanations (such as learning theory and environmental influences).
AO1 - What is the role of brain structures in gender dysphoria?
Research suggests that brain structures such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTc) are different in individuals with gender dysphoria compared to their biological sex.
AO1 - How do genetic factors explain gender dysphoria?
Twin studies suggest a genetic basis for gender dysphoria, as concordance rates are higher in identical twins compared to non-identical twins.
AO1 - How does the social learning theory explain gender dysphoria?
Social learning theory suggests that gender dysphoria may develop through reinforcement and imitation of opposite-gender role models.
AO1 - What role does reinforcement play in the development of gender dysphoria?
Children may receive positive reinforcement for cross-gender behaviours, leading to the internalisation of an opposite-gender identity.
AO3 - What is one strength of the biological explanation for gender dysphoria?
Research by Zhou et al. (1995) found that the BSTc was smaller in transgender women and similar in size to cisgender women, suggesting a biological basis for gender dysphoria.
AO3 - What is a limitation of the biological explanation for gender dysphoria?
Biological explanations are deterministic and do not account for environmental influences. The fact that identical twins do not always both have gender dysphoria suggests other factors play a role.
AO3 - What is one strength of the social explanation for gender dysphoria?
The social learning theory provides a clear mechanism for how gender dysphoria could develop through reinforcement and imitation, explaining individual differences.
AO3 - What is a limitation of the social explanation for gender dysphoria?
Many individuals with gender dysphoria report experiencing it from a young age, before significant social influences, suggesting that social factors alone cannot fully explain the condition.
AO3 - Why is an interactionist approach to gender dysphoria important?
Both biological and social factors contribute to gender dysphoria, so an interactionist approach that considers both influences is likely to provide a more complete explanation.
