Psychodynamic Explanations

Question 1

According to Freud what stage does gender development start? (And age)

Answer 1

Phallic stage - 3-6 years
Prior to the phallic stage no understanding of gender identity

Question 2

Describe what happens to boys in the Oedipus complex during gender development

Answer 2

Boys develop incestuous feelings towards their mother. Jealousy and hatred for their father due to castration anxiety. This is resolved by identifying with their father.

Question 3

Describe what happens to girls during the electra complex during gender development

Answer 3

Girls experience penis envy. They are in competition for their fathers love and resent their mother as they blame her for castrating them.

Girls realise that they will never have a penis and displace this with the desire for children

Question 4

Describe what is meant by identification and internalisation in psychodynamic gender development

Answer 4

Identification: children identify with same gender parent-

Internalisation: child takes on gender identity of same gender parent ‘second hand gender identity’

Question 5

Explain what Freud found in the case study of little hans

Answer 5

Hans had a fear of being bitten by a horse which stemmed from watching a horse collapse and die. Freud said the phobia developed due to castration anxiety which was displaced onto horses.

Question 6

Identify and describe the supporting evidence for the Oedipus complex (AO3)

Answer 6

Rekers + Morey: rated gender identity of 49 boys aged 3-11 based on interviews with family members and the child.
75% of gender disturbed had neither biological or substitute father —> being raised without a father has a negative impact on

Question 7

Describe the counter evidence for Rekers and Morey’s research (AO3)

Answer 7

Bos and sandfort: compared data from 65 children where both parents were lesbians and 68 ‘traditional’.
Children of lesbian parents felt less pressure to conform to gender stereotypes and less likely to assume own gender superiority. Contradicts Freud

Question 8

Why is the psychodynamic explanation of gender criticised? (AO3)

Answer 8

Inadequate account of female gender development

Freud admitted girls are a mystery to him
Penis envy established in androcentric Victorian era.

Horney: argued womb envy more powerful than penis envy