Psychodynamic explanation of gender development Flashcards
When did Freud claim gender development took place?
During the phallic stage (3-6) where the libido (life force) is focused on the genitals.
What is identification?
A form of influence where an individual adopts an attitude or behaviour because they want to be associated with a particular person or group.
What is internalisation?
Occurs when an individual acceptors the attitudes or behaviours of another.
Outline the oedipus complex.
Boy becomes aware of sexuality and attracted to mother.
See father as competition, wish death upon him.
Fear of castration.
Boy identifies with father to impress mother.
Identification internalises father’s gender identity, resolving conflict.
Outline the neo-Freudian electra complex.
Girl attracts to mother.
Realises mother has no penis, so attracts to father.
Penis envy.
Penis envy resolved when she wishes to have baby.
Realises mother can have baby, identifies with mother, taking on behaviours.
Why is identification in girls ‘weaker’?
Because women have ‘lower societal status’, causing the daughter to have less motivation to identify.
What is the consequence of an unresolved phallic stage?
Fixation at a particular psychosexual stage die to an unresolved complex. Phallic fixation leads to individuals incapable of close love.
(AO3) Describe research evidence for the psychodynamic explanation of gender development.
Little Hans case study communication between Dad and Freud. Hans (4) fear of horses. Freud: unresolved oedipus complex - projection of fear of father onto horse. Freud claimed to cure his phobia by helping Hans resolve his oedipus complex, supposedly providing evidence.
(AO3) Discuss benefits and weaknesses of the research evidence for psychodynamic explanations.
Case studies:
Rich details.
Insight that may be overlooked in experimental methods.
Lack of population validity.
Lack of quantitative evidence.
Ethical issues of consent and psychological harm.
(AO3) Describe alternative theories for gender development.
Gender schema theory. Suggest children identity with in-groups due to in-group schemas. Causes them to take on gender behaviours to identify with group. Has more concrete research evidence and more widely accepted than psychodynamic.
(AO3) Describe gender biases in psychodynamic explanation.
Alpha bias: suggesting women are inferior in society is a clear alpha bias. Attitudes to gender have massively changed since Freud, essentially proving this wrong.
Beta bias: Freud conducted almost no research on women to develop his theories. Refused to accept females may develop gender differently. But still applied his techniques to treat females.
