Gender Dysphoria Flashcards
What is it?
Psychiatric disorder
Individual feels that there is a mismatch between their anatomy and their gender identity- so they identify more with the opposite sex.
Psychological explanation of gender dysphoria:
Behavioural approach
Behavioural approach- Social Learning Theory : Absence of an appropriate role model.
Operant Conditioning: Parents encouraged and gave attention to their children when they cross-dressed, particularly boys (Mothers declared them ‘cute’) This contributed to the conflict between anatomical sex and acquired gender identity.
Psychological explanation of gender dysphoria:
Psychodynamic approach
Childhood trauma- mental illness
GID is related to mental illness and in turn linked to some sort of childhood trauma maladaptive upbringing.
Personality stages
Resulting from incomplete resolution of Oedipal and Electra conflicts during phallic stage of personality development.
Or identifying with inappropriate role model during the phallic stage.
Separation anxiety
coates and Person (1985) suggested that separation anxiety plays an important role in the development of GID in boys. Separation anxiety must be severe to result in feminine behaviour. To reduce anxiety caused by the separation, the boy demonstrates cross-gender behaviour- this is because he has confused being her with the experience of her comfort or presence.
Childhood trauma as a cause of GID- research
Coates et al (1991): Case study of by with GID
Proposed that it was a defensive reaction to his mother’s depression following and abortion. The trauma occurred when the child was 3, a time of development when a child is particularly sensitive to gender issues. Trauma may have led to cross- gender fantasy as a means of resolving anxieties.
Psychological explanations of gender dysphoria- supporting evidence
Green (1974)
