gender development

Question 1

define sex

Answer 1

biological- defined by genetic and anatomic features

Question 2

define gender

Answer 2

social- determined by culturally defined roles and behaviors

Question 3

androgyny

Answer 3

high degree of masc and fem in sex role identification

Question 4

when does gender awareness occur

Answer 4

By 7 months, infants can discriminate between male and female faces and voices, using hair length and voice pitch. By 9 months, infants show some basic gender knowledge. By 12 months, babies will look to female faces when they hear a female voice and male faces when they hear a male voice. • By the second year, children engage in gender-linked behavior and prefer activities stereotypically associated with their own gender, even before they develop a sense of their own gender as constant

Question 5

social interaction theory

Answer 5

reflected appraisals from important others (parents, peers, teachers) about oneself and one’s gender become the building blocks for one’s self-conceptualizations

Question 6

evolutionary psychology of gender

Answer 6

Archer, Buss, Simpson and Kenwick. Gender differences occur from successful evolutionary adaptation to varying reproductive demands for males and females. Wome become more invested in parenting. Men evolved into aggressors, social dominators and prolific maters.

Question 7

evolutionary psychology of gender- criticisms

Answer 7

Evolutionary predictions do not really match current behaviors for either gender or allow for developmental change across the life span

Question 8

Hormonal influences on gender differentiation

Answer 8

Differences in the degree of brain lateralization (due to influences of hormones on neuronal lateralization) between males and females are proposed to produce gender differences in cognitive processing. Girls do better in verbal skills. Boys do better in math and spatial skills

Question 9

Hormonal influences on gender differentiation- criticisms

Answer 9

1. Actual differences in brain lateralization between genders are small or not found at all.
2. Differences in cognitive processing have been diminishing at a rate that cannot be accounted for by genetic change. 3. Differences more likely accounted for by the environments in which boys and girls learn. 1. Actual differences in brain lateralization between genders are small or not found at all.
3. Differences in cognitive processing have been diminishing at a rate that cannot be accounted for by genetic change. 3. Differences more likely accounted for by the environments in which boys and girls learn.

Question 10

Cognitive Developmental Theory

Answer 10

Kohlberg- Children develop a sense of gender from what they observe and experience around them. Gender identity becomes a basic organizer for the child’s gender learning. Stages include gender identity, gender stability, gender consistency

Question 11

sociological theory of gender development

Answer 11

Gender is a social construction rather than a biological given. Gender differences are more related to social and institutional practices than to fixed properties of the individual.

Question 12

Social Cognitive Theory

Answer 12

Bandura and Bussey- gender develoment occurs under the influence of evolutionary forces and social/ environmental innovations. Through cognitive processing of experiences, children categorize themselves as girl vs boy, gains knowledge of gender roles and extract rules regarding what types of behavior are considered appropriate for their gender

Question 13

Gender Intensification Hypothesis

Answer 13

Physical changes of puberty highlight differences between the sexes and signal the transition to adulthood and adult roles. Gender-role expectations of significant others (parents, peers) intensify

Question 14

depression in males vs females

Answer 14

Girls react in a more sad and ruminative manner. Boys react in a more angry, hostile, behavioral way. Rates of depression in adolescence is double for girls compared to boys

Question 15

male vs female victimization

Answer 15

Girls experienced more relational victimization (e.g., rumors). Boys experienced more overt victimization (e.g., bullying and physical aggression. Emotional abuse rates are the same for both. Childhood sexual abuse occurs more often for girls

Question 16

Why do men die earlier

Answer 16

1.5 times more likely than women to die from heart disease, cancer and respiratory diseases. 25 % less likely to have visited a health provider in the last year. 40 % more likely to skip cholesterol screenings

Question 17

psychoanalytic theory of gender identification

Answer 17

Freud- Although initially both boys and girls are theorized to identify with their mothers, a shift occurs toward same-sex parent identification between ages 3 and 5. This same-sex parent identification occurs as a resolution to the anxieties that occur from earlier erotic attachments to the opposite-sex parent and fears of retaliation from the same-sex parent.

Question 18

Gender schema theory

Answer 18

The ability to label oneself as male or female forms the basis for a cognitive schema for gender. The schema expands to include knowledge of activities, interests, personality attributes, and social scripts related to and connected with each gender. Gender knowledge leads one to do “girl things” and “boy things”.