psychodynamic theory of gender

Question 1

what does Freud believe?

Answer 1

• we have thoughts + feelings that we arent aware of bc they are unconscious
• patients problems stemmed from childhood experiences which they had no mems of

Question 2

what technique did Freud develop to investigate childhood experiences?

Answer 2

free association-> way of assessing unconscious mind

Question 3

what are the oedipus and electra complexes?

Answer 3

• happened in psychosexual development during the phallic stage (3-5years), drives focused on genitals
• have sexual desire for opposite sex parents, seeing same sex parent as rival and thinks they will be angry- this conflict creates anxiety
• worse for boys due to castration anxiety

Question 4

how are the complexes resolved?

Answer 4

• child passes through complex successfully where gender is complete by 6 years they give up feelings for mother (boys) or father (girls)
• begin to identify with same sex parents and adopt masculine or feminine gender role forever
• internalise gender role.

Question 5

what is identify?

Answer 5

desire to be associated with particular person bc they possess certain desirable characteristics

Question 6

what is internalisation?

Answer 6

individual adopts attititudes and/or behaviour of another

Question 7

A03

what research support is there?

Answer 7

1. Little Hans-> unconsciously sexually desired his mother, saw father as rival and feared castration, displaced fear of father onto horses, fear of bitten= fear of castration
2. case study Carl-> 8years, gender identity problem- feminine voice, talked about dresses, played with girls over boys. no stable father figure. supports identification.

counter-> case studies, idiographic, no experimental backing

Question 8

A03

how is the theory pseudoscientific?

Answer 8

• Freud uses subjective case studies making his explanation lack scientific creditability
• untestable concepts (unconscious)
• Karl-> cannot falsify, questions vald= pseudoscientific

Question 9

A03

how is the theory contradicted by the cognitive theory?

Answer 9

• children dont show gender behaviour until after 6 years (Oedipus/Electra resolved)
• Kolhberg’s theory- childrens concept of gender develops gradually via stages
• Freud- gender acquired all at once

Question 10

A03

how is the theory outdated?

Answer 10

• theory developed in early 1900s
• concepts may have changed, therefore lacks temporal validity