Gender - Explanations of GID Flashcards
what is gender dysphoria?
chronic stress due to perception of sex and gender mismatch
excludes intersex conditions
what is gender dysphoria also known as?
gender identity disorder
what are the biological theories for explaining gender dysphoria?
the transsexual gene
brain-sex theory
cross wiring
pesticides
what was the method of the study into the transsexual gene?
DNA from over 100 MtF transsexuals studied
what were the findings from the study into the transsexual gene?
androgen receptor gene significantly longer in MtF transsexuals
that brains of MtFs may be much less masculine than average if threshold for masculine development never reached
how could a longer androgen receptor gene cause a less masculine brain?
it reduces the ability of testosterone to cause changes in development
what is the brain-sex theory for explaining gender dysphoria?
theory that transsexual’s brains do not match genetic sex
what evidence is there for the brain-sex theory of explaining gender dysphoria?
BSTc twice the size in straight men than women
BSTc correlates with preferred sex, not biological sex, in transsexuals
what is the role of the BSTc?
integrate information across the limbic system
info used to moniter stress-readiness levels
what are the brain differences between men and women?
male brains larger
female brains have a thicker cortex and more grey matter/less white matter
males have larger ventricles
female neurons have more dendritic spines
what evidence contradicts the theory of male/female brains?
stress can alter the sex of brain areas:
after 15 mins of stress, typical female neurons had switched to typical male neurons in a study on rats
‘mosaic’ theory
nature/nurture/diathesis-stress issue with the theory
which environmental factors have been found to switch the sex of brain regions?
size of social group
level of environmental stimulation
during pregancy
what is the mosaic theory of gender and the brain?
all brains intersex/androgynous
all born with a ‘mosaic’ of female + male parts of the brain that change throughout your life
what is the cross-wiring theory for explaining gender dysphoria?
amputees may feel phantom limbs due to cross wiring
FTM transsexuals may experience phantom penis and lack of sensation in female genitals due to disrupted wiring
what proportion of FTM transsexuals reported experiencing phantom penis?
2/3
what could disrupt wiring to cause phantom penis?
low fetal testosterone activity
what is the pesticide theory for gender dysphoria?
insectiside DDT used in some countries
contains oestrogen
boys born to exposed mothers were more feminine
what are the social explanations for gender dysphoria?
childhood trauma
atypical mother-son relationships
atypical father-daughter relationships
what is the trauma explanation for gender dysphoria?
gender dysphoria is similar to a mental illness that results from childhood trauma
what is the case study for the trauma explanation for gender dysphoria?
boys mother had an abortion when he was around 3
mother became depressed
boy develops gender dysphoria to understand mother
what is the mother-son explanation for gender dysphoria?
boys that developed GD were very close with their mothers
may have over-identified with mother as boundaries very blurred
identification with wrong model may lead to identity issues
what is the father-daughter explanation for gender dysphoria?
dysphoric girls usually rejected by fathers at young age
results in over-identification with father
increased imitation of male behaviours leads to confused identity
what are the criticisms of the brain-sex theory?
differences in BSTc doesn’t usually develop until adulthood, gender dysphoria mostly reported in early childhood
what are the advantages of the brain-sex theory?
supporting evidence - FTM before hormone therapy had similar white/grey matter patterns to biological men
what research support is there for the cross-wiring theory?
only 10% FTM experience phantom breasts after surgery to remove
30% MTF experience phantom penis after surgery, compared to 60% cisgender men
what research support is there for social explanations?
studied boys with gender and mother issues:
64% MTF diagnosed with anxiety compared to 38% non-GID men
another study found high levels of emotional over-involvement in mothers of boys with GID
what are the issues with research into GID?
socially sensitive research
outcomes will socially affect individuals with GID
