Lecture 11 Flashcards
WEIRD psychology
WEIRD: Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic
Define sex
Refers to the properties of people that determine their classification as male or female. Five physical characteristics used to classify sex including chromosomes, gonads, hormones, genitalia and secondary sex characteristics
Chromosomes
- Are the packages of DNA that carry our genes
- Have 23 pairs of chromosomes with one of each pair provided by each parents
- 23rd pair differs across the sexes and is referred to as the sex chromosomes because the pair determines a person’s genetic sex
Chromosomes in males and females
Female: Both are alike and are called X chromosomes
Males: Have one X and one Y
Pubertal growth spurt
On average the pubertal growth spurt begins and peaks about 2 years earlier for girls
Girls start at 9 and peak at 11
Boys start at 11 and peak at 13
Gonads
Part of the endocrine system
Glands that produce sex hormones
Generate ova(eggs) in females and sperm in males - the cells used in reproduction
Female vs male gonads
Female gonads are the ovaries located on either side of the abdomen
Male gonads are the testes
located in the scrotum, the pouch of skin that hangs below the penis
Hormones
The hormones estrogen and progesterone are higher in females and the hormones androgens - Most common androgen is testosterone which is higher in males
In females, androgens are produced by adrenal glands and in males some of the androgens are produced in testes that are converted into estrogens
Define gender
Refers to the social and psychological aspects of being female or male
Goes beyond biological sex to include a person’s understanding of the meaning of being male or female
Gender identity
Is an individual’s sense of belonging to the male, female or alternate gender
Gender expression
Refers to how individuals present themselves in terms of their behaviours, interests and appearance
In dimensions related to gender and especially to the continuum from femininity to masculinity
A non binary person and androgynous
Non Binary: May identify or express their gender as both male and female or as neither
Androgynous: Having attributes that are typically associated with both genders
- People who are low on both dimensions are referred to as undifferentiated
Variances in sexual development
VSD
- Congenital conditions in which the development of chromosomal, gonadal or anatomical sex is atypical
- “Congenital” means these conditions are present from birth
- An infant with a VSD might have genitals that are not typical or their genitals may appear to be female or male when the child’s genes indicate the opposite sex
Transgender
- Refers to experiencing one’s psychological gender as different from one’s biological or at birth sex
- Transgender individuals can be genetically and anatomically male or female that identify as the opposite sex
Transgender experience
Gender dysphoria: Refers to a person’s discomfort with their at birth gender
Transition for transgender
Individuals involve gradual stages that move from reversible treatments to permanent ones
- Gender affirming surgery
- Sex reassignment surgery
Biological approaches to gender development
Behavioural difference in newborns and infants
Evolutionary psychology approach to gender differences
Sexual selection
- Male and female members of a species differ from each other because of differences in competition and choice
- Competition
Occurs among members of the same sex as they vie for the opportunity to mate with members of the opposite sex
Social cognitive accounts
Experience influences sense of gender
Socialization (rewards, punishments, modelling)
Gender non conforming behaviour
Gender schema (mental framework)
Social role theory
Division of labour
Natural differences become expected/valued differences
Gender stereotypes
Overly general beliefs and expectations about what women and men are like
Major theoretical approaches to gender
Biological: Focuses on biological processes that lead to differences such as genes, hormones, brain structure and more
Evolutionary: Focuses on differences that are adaptive functions. Sexual section and sex differences in reproductive challenges
Social cognitive: Focuses on how processes such as learning and the development of cognitive schemas associated with sex
Social role: Focuses on the ways the division of labour between the sexes lead to expectations about what is appropriate behaviour for members of each sex - leads to gender stereotypes
Do the Genders Differ in Terms of Emotion,
Empathy, and Helpfulness?
- Empathy and Helping
- Women tend to show more empathy and tend to help in the emotionally nurturing problems whereas men tend to help in problems involving risk
- Cognitive Differences
– Verbal performance (female advantage)
– Visuospatial ability (male advantage)
– Gender stereotypes
Genders and levels of aggression
Differences
- Overt aggression (physical/verbal harm)
Males more than females
- Relational aggression (harm social standing)
Females more than males
Differences in sexuality
Females are more selective in regard to casual sex
Males engage more in sex/view pornography
Women are more likely to engage in bisexuality
Explanations for differences in sexuality
Biological - genetic/hormonal
Evolutionary - sexual selection
Social cognitive - learned behaviour
Social role - culturally constructed
Sexual orientation
Direction of erotic interests; refers to more than just sexual behaviour
Orientations:
- straight
- gay
- Bisexual
- Pansexual
- Asexual
“Two spirit”
Term used by the indigenous people to refer to indigenous people who identify with nontraditional sexual orientation
Origins of sexual orientation
Probably not a single cause
Within group variation
Research challenges such as recruitment
Considering more than just straight or gay orientations
Orientation is influenced by
Genetics
Prenatal hormones
Brain structures
Social factors
Individual adjustment and well being of gay/lesbian people
Similarities to heterosexual population
- attitudes, psychological adjustment
Difference from heterosexual population
- Hobbies, activities, occupations
Coping with prejudice/discrimination (coming out)
Relationships
Report greater satisfaction than hetero
Canada’s history with same sex couples
Same sex decriminalized in 1969
In 2005, became 4th country in the world to legalize same sex marriage
What constitutes sexual behaviour
Loss of virginity
Activities involved in reproduction
Arousal and sexual response
Unusually intimate and personal activity as defined by the participants
Stages of sexual response
William masters and virginia johnson
4 phases: Excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution/Male refractory period
Helen singer added desire
Sexual variations/disorders
Fetishes
- Is an object that arouses atypical sexual interest and desire
- That is not usually associated with sexual gratification
Disorders: Female dysfunction in arousal, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation
Paraphilic disorders
Pedophilic disorder: Where an adult or an order adolescent sexually fantasizes about or engages in sexual behaviour
(more common in men)
Fetishistic disorder: Using nonliving objects for sexual pleasure
Positive psychology
The scientific study of the strengths and capacities that allow individuals and communities to thrive and flourish
