Gender - Atypical Gender Development Flashcards
What are the key features of Klinefelter’s syndrome?
- XXY chromosomal structure
- physical characteristics (lack of body hair, health problems)
- psychological characteristics (poor language, skills, shy)
Who does Klinefelter’s syndrome affect?
About 1 in 750 males have Klinefelter’s syndrome.
Individuals who have this condition are biological males with male anatomy but an additional X chromosome.
10% of cases are identified prenatally but up to 66% may not be aware of it. Diagnosis often comes about accidentally via a medical examination for some unrelated condition.
What are some physical effects of Klinefelter’s syndrome?
- reduced body hair compared to a typical male
- some breast development at puberty (gynaecomastia)
- underdeveloped genitals
- more susceptible to health problems that are usually associated with females, such as breast cancer
What are some psychological effects of Klinefelter’s syndrome?
- poorly developed language skills and reading ability
- passive, shy and lacking interest in sexual activity
- tend not to respond well to stressful situations
- problems with what are called executive functions, such as problem-solving
What are the key features of Turner’s syndrome?
- X chromosomal structure
- physical characteristics (sterility and immature body shape)
- psychological characteristics (high reading ability, social immaturity)
Who does Turner’s syndrome affect?
1 in 5000 females have Turner’s syndrome.
Caused by an absence of one of the two X chromosomes leading to 45 rather than 46 chromosomes.
What are some physical characteristics of Turner’s syndrome?
- no menstrual cycle as their ovaries fail to develop, leaving them sterile
- a broad ‘shield’ chest and no developing breasts at puberty
- characteristic low set ears and a ‘webbed’ neck
- hips are not much bigger than the waist
What are some psychological characteristics of Turner’s syndrome?
- higher-than-average reading ability
- lower-than-average performance on spatial, visual memory and mathematical skills
- tendency to be socially immature
What are the strengths of atypical sex chromosome patterns?
- research has contributed to the nature-nurture debate
- research has practical applications
What are the weaknesses of atypical sex chromosome patterns?
- lack of a causal relationship
- samples are unrepresentative and atypical
- typical sex and gender may have been exaggerated
How has research into atypical sex chromosome patterns contributed to the nature-nurture debate?
Comparing chromosome-typical and atypical individuals highlights psychological and behavioural differences. For example, people with Turner’s syndrome tend to have a higher verbal ability than ‘typical’ females.
From such results, we might logically infer that these differences have a biological basis resulting from the abnormal chromosomal structure.
This adds to our understanding of the nature-nurture debate and suggests that innate influences have a powerful effect on psychology and behaviour.
How does research into atypical sex chromosome patterns have practical applications?
Herlihy (2012) showed that individuals identified and treated from a very young age had significant benefits compared to those who had been diagnosed in adulthood.
Further research will increase the likelihood of earlier diagnosis and an increased understanding of the issues faced by those with the syndromes.
Such research has a direct benefit to people who have these atypical chromosomal patterns as well as potentially increasing our understanding of atypical development.
How does research into atypical sex chromosome patterns lack a causal relationship?
It is possible that the impacts of environmental and/or social influences are more important than the research suggests.
For instance, social immaturity in females with Turner’s syndrome may be due to the way others respond to their physical immaturity rather than to a biological cause related to their chromosomes.
We cannot assume from this research alone that observed psychological and behavioural differences are due to nature.
How are samples in research into atypical sex chromosome patterns unrepresentative?
Individuals with unusual conditions, particularly those with conditions that impact upon their physical appearance, are unlikely to be treated the same way as their peers.
This means that it is difficult to disentangle the relative contribution of nature and nurture to gender differences.
Overall this makes it difficult to generalise from the cases studied to all people who may have the conditions, especially as life experiences may have a significant impact.
How may typical sex and gender have been exaggerated?
If research into atypical chromosomal patterns is to contribute to the nature-nurture debate then we are assuming that we can compare atypical and typical gender behaviours.
However, studies such as Maccoby and Jacklin (1974) identified significantly more differences within the sexes than between them, questioning whether there are in fact typical behaviours.
This means that the research into atypical sex chromosome patterns may have only a limited role in helping our understanding of the usual development of sex and gender.
