Paper 3 - Gender

Question 1

Define sex

Answer 1

Sex : A biological status, determined by genes, hormones and chromosomes (CANNOT CHANGE)

Question 2

Define gender

Answer 2

Gender : A psychological status : the expected attitudes, behaviours and roles of males/females (CAN CHANGE)

Question 3

Define gender dysphoria

Answer 3

Gender Dysphoria : A persons sexual does not match their gender this leads to dysphoria

Question 4

Define sex roles and examples of the stereotypes

Answer 4

Sex Role : Expected roles, attitudes of each sex in a given culture. These allow us to make short cuts in situations.
Sex Role Stereotypes : Girls (caring, nurturing, long hair, sensitive, cooking)
Boys (beer, sporty, aggressive, immature)

Question 5

Sex, gender & BSRI : Ingalhaliker

Answer 5

Ingalhaliker : Mapped female and male brains with MRI. Female have greater connections across hemispheres. Males have greater connections within hemispheres.

Question 6

Sex, gender & BSRI : Rubin

Answer 6

Rubin : Looked at when stereotyping occurred. New parents asked to describe their baby within 24 hrs of being born (boys = strong and alert), (girls = soft and delicate). Stereotyping occurs very early on, more so with gender reveals in todays society.

Question 7

Sex, gender & BSRI : Batista Boys

Answer 7

“Penis at 14” 4 buys from the Dominican Republic were born with ambiguous genitalia. (Due to chemicals from a nearby factor). Genitals looked female, so they were raised as female. However during puberty they ‘became male’. Their sex was XY (later found out). They all socialised absolutely fine, marrried and had children.

Question 8

BSRI : Bem’s sex role inventory, define androgyny

Answer 8

Androgyny : A balance of masculine and feminine traits, people will adapt to a given situation.

Question 9

Explain the BSRI method

Answer 9

BSRI : Ppts rated themself 1-7 (always trust to always never true) on 6p traits (20 female, 20 male & 20 neutral). This gave one of 4 categories: male (high male score, low female), female (low male score, high female), androgynous (high male and high female score), unclassified (low male and female score).
Conclusion = Bem stated those that were androgynous were the most psychologically healthy and had great mental well-being.

Question 10

A03 : Sex, gender & BSRI (pilot study)

Answer 10

Strength
Pilot Study : 100 people judged 200 traits to narrow down to 20 female, 20 male and 20 neutral (all agreed) = VALID. 1 month later they were asked again = same traits = high test retest.

Question 11

A03 : Sex, gender & BSRI (lacks temporal validity)

Answer 11

Weakness
Lacks temporal validity : Created in the 70s, expected roles, behaviours & attitudes have changed since (females can be the breadwinner).

Question 12

A03 : Sex, gender & BSRI (cultural bias)

Answer 12

Weakness
Cultural Bias : Developed in the USA, a western society (individualistic). It is not applicable to Eastern/collectivistic cultures (male traits may be expected & females there)

Question 13

A03 : Sex, gender & BSRI (self report)

Answer 13

Weakness
Reductionist : Reduces the complexities of gender to 60 traits, we should consider jobs, attitudes, behaviours to get a better understanding.

Question 14

A03 : Sex, gender & BSRI (reductionist)

Answer 14

Weakness
Reductionist : Reduces the complexities of gender to 60 traits, we should consider jobs, attitudes, behaviours to get a better understanding.

Question 15

A03 : Sex, gender & BSRI (Adam & Sherer)

Answer 15

Weakness
Adam & Sherer : Stated masculines more desirable and useful in a western society. Therefore psychologically healthy & valued.

Question 16

Biological Explanation: Chromosomes

Answer 16

Chromosomes : 46 chromosomes, 23 pairs, 23rd pair determines sex (xx female, xy male). They are biochemical units of heredity that govern development. The ‘Y’ chromosome has an ‘SRY’ gene causing the androgen (testosterone) to develop tests in the womb.

Question 17

Biological Explanation: Hormones (what are testosterone, oestrogen and oxytocin)

Answer 17

Hormones : Shape our behaviour & physical characteristics (prenatally hormones work on brain development & reproductive development -> at puberty a secondary burst of hormones occur (sexual characteristics)
Testosterone = Controls male sex organ development & linked to aggression in both genders. A03: Van de Poll : injected female rats with testosterone -> led to increase aggression.
Oestrogen = Controls female sex organs & menstruation. PMT (pre-menstrual tension) leads to increased emotion, irritability & aggression.
Oxytocin = Controls lactation and bending. Women stimulate higher levels than males (explains females need for intimacy).

Question 18

Biological explanation : C.A.H

Answer 18

C.A.H: Congenital adrenal hyperplasma, a rare prenatal condition, increased levels of testosterone in females lead to ambiguous genitalia in newborn girls (referred to as Tomboys).

Question 19

Biological Explanation: A03 : + Bruce/Brenda

Answer 19

Bruce/Brenda : Dr Money ‘theory of neutrality’ believed nurture overrides nature! But this case proved: nature overrides nurture for our gender
ADD OWN NOTES TO THIS (explain what happened, e.g. penis burnt off with laser during circumcising Bruce, new theories say can transfer to female and bring up as a girl, didn’t work out)

Question 20

Biological Explanation: A03 : + Van Goozen

Answer 20

Van Goozen : Male -> female transsexuals have lower levels of aggression than female -> male (demonstrates testosterone is linked to aggression and more ‘male’ behaviour)

Question 21

Biological Explanation: A03 : - Tricker

Answer 21

Tricker : Gave male ppts 10 weekly injections of testosterone or a placebo. No significant differences were found in behaviour (suggests that testosterone doesn’t post-natally lead to aggressive behaviour)

Question 22

Biological Explanation: A03 : - Deterministic

Answer 22

Deterministic : Ignores SLT, the biological approach is 100% nature and ignores SLT explanations. There is research to suggest our sex related behaviour is caused by observing and imitating role models in our environment. Therefore this explanation cannot explain cultural differences in gender related behaviour. Doesn’t explain changes in todays society.

Question 23

Biological Explanation: A03 : - Reductionist

Answer 23

Reductionist : This approach reduces the complexities of our gender down to genes, hormones & chromosomes. It ignores any thought processes as well as the influence our environment can have on shaping our behaviour.

Question 24

Atypical Sex Chromosomes : Explain Klinefelters

Answer 24

XXY
Affects 1 in 750 males. Extra ‘X’ chromosome. Not physically noticeable, identified usually during a routine medical check.

Question 25

Atypical Sex Chromosomes : Klinefelters physical & psychological characteristics

Answer 25

Physical Characteristics:
Reduced body hair
Develops small breasts at puberty
Long & gangly limbs

Psychological Characteristics:
Poor language skills
Poor memory
Passive & shy
Poor reading

Question 26

Atypical Sex Chromosomes : Explain Turner

Answer 26

XO
Affects 1 in 5000 females. Missing one 2nd X chromosome. Only 45 chromosomes. Noticeable from birth.

Question 27

Atypical Sex Chromosomes : Turner physical/psychological characteristics

Answer 27

Physical Characteristics:
Broad shield chest
Don’t develop ovaries - no menstrual cycle
Webbed neck
Physically immature

Psychological Characteristics:
Higher reading ability
Low spatial, visual & maths skills
Socially immature & have few friends

Question 28

A03 : Atypical Sex Chromosomes : strength (comparing typical & atypical)

Answer 28

+ Comparing typical & atypical sex chromosome patterns develop our understanding of physical and psychological differences that biology has influenced on people (nature). This develops our understanding of the impact nature has on sex & gender in the differences in people.

Question 29

A03 : Atypical Sex Chromosomes : strength (research led to earlier identification)

Answer 29

+ This research has led to earlier identification which has led to treatment/methods to thrive. Those that were identified as having atypical sex chromosome patterns had significant benefits to those identified in adulthood. Improves quality of life as these conditions can affect people psychologically (I.e. school support/SEN)

Question 30

A03 : Atypical Sex Chromosomes : weakness (social immaturity)

Answer 30

• Social immaturity can be an environmental influence rather than biological. I.e. girls with Turners may become socially isolated during puberty. Can or assume the physical and psychological differences are just nature.

Question 31

A03 : Atypical Sex Chromosomes : weakness (research based on 33%)

Answer 31

• All research on Klinefelters is based on 33% of males with Klinefelters - therefore is not representative of the conditions many makes experience, there may be less differences.