Gender identity disorder - research Flashcards
What did Gladue (1985) find?
There were very few, if any, hormonal differences between gender dysphoric men, heterosexual men and homosexual men.
Similar results found with women
What are evaluative points for Gladue?
Evidence against the influence of hormones on gender dysphoria.
Generalisable
Supporting for men and women
What did Rekers (1995) find?
In 70 gender dysphoric boys, there was more evidence of social factors than biological factors
Social factors play a larger role than biological
What are evaluative points for Rekers?
Found evidence for both social factors and biological
Androcentric - focuses on males
Issues with generalising to women
Small, unusual sample
What did Beijsteerveldt et al (2006) find?
Used self report data supplied by mothers to assess cross-gender behaviour in 14,000 Dutch twins aged 7-10
Prevalence for gender cross behaviour was created in monozygotic twins than dizygotic twins
Use of statistical modelling techniques showed 70% of the variance in the tendency for cross gender behaviour was due to genetic factors
What are evaluative points for Beijsteerveldt?
Ethnocentric - can’t generalise findings to other countries
Self report techniques - validity issues as they may lie or exaggerate
Reductionistic - down to inherited genes
Twin studies - never 100% concordance rate which leaves room for environmental factors
What did Zucker et al (2008) find?
Longitudinal study on gender dysphoric females between 2-3 years who had been referred to a clinic
Only 12% were still gender dysphoric at 18
Majority of people have gender dysphoria for short term
What are evaluative points for Zucker?
Longitudinal study - lots of data and information collected, detailed
Gynocentric - focuses on females
Issues with generalising to males
It supports the idea that GID is heavily influenced by parents
Hare et al (2009) find?
Examined gene samples from male gender dysphorics and non-dysphorics.
A correlation was found between gender dysphoria and variants of the androgen receptor gene, implying a biological explanation
What are evaluative points for Hare?
Used a control group which increases validity
Correlation doesn’t mean causation
What did Garcia-Falgueras and swaab (2008) find?
Compared post mortem data from 17 dead individuals who had had gender reassignment surgery with 25 controls
Hypothalamic uncinate nucleus brain area was similar in male to female gender reassignment participants to femal econtrols
It was similar to female to male gender reassignment participants to male controls
Differences in structure may have occurred from abnormal hormonal activity
What are evaluative points for Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab?
Used a control group
Small sample
