Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

First two stages and relation to gender

Answer 1

Oral and anal

Child perceived as bisexual, no gender identity

Question 2

Third stage and relation to gender

Answer 2

Phallic
Libido focussed on genitals
Crucial to gender development

Question 3

Basic assumptions of the psychodynamic approach to gender development

Answer 3

1) origins of behaviour lie in unconscious mind
2) instincts motivate: Eros (sex and life) and Thanatos (death and aggression) in Id
3) early experiences determine behaviour before 6 years

Question 4

Identification and gender development

Answer 4

Process of acquiring the characteristics of the same sex parent

Question 5

Internalisation of gender dev

Answer 5

Incorporation of the same sex parent into an individual’s personality

Question 6

Electra complex

Answer 6

Proposed by Carl Yung

1) develop ‘penis envy’ and blame mother for ‘castrated state’
2) sexually desire father and therefore go through identification process
3) substitutes desire for a penis with a baby

Question 7

Oedipus complex

Answer 7

Phallic stage- leads to masculine behaviour

1) boy has sexual feelings for the mother and sees father as rival
2) boy feels threatened by father
3) reduce anxiety: IDs and befriends father and incorporates characteristics

Question 8

Unresolved phallic stage

Answer 8

Fixation @ a psychosexual stage can occur from indulgence or restriction (or combination)
Leads to a character who is afraid/ incapable of close love
Could result in amoral beh. And homosexuality

Question 9

Research support of psychodynamic gender dev- Hyman

Answer 9

Reported majority of studied manic depressive female patients had unresolved Electra complex, over half of those with unres complex had repressed to earlier stage of development
C: failure to ID with female gen ID could lead to repression/ earlier stages

Question 10

Support for psychodynamic gender development- Wiszewska

Answer 10

Found women who reported close relationship with fathers were more likely to be attracted to those who resembled them
C: unconscious desire towards father however SLT would suggest this is expected

Question 11

Little Hans and gender development

Answer 11

Phobia of horses, concluded boy was going through Oedipus Complex and horse represented father

1) plumber changing body parts for bigger part (like father)
2) fathered several children (paternity)

Question 12

Limitations of psychodynamic gender development

Answer 12

• Little scientific support
• Mainly male orientated: reflection of Victorian era, historical bias and women’s theories incomplete
• Hard to scientifically and empirically tests due to obscurity