psychosexual development (pt.1)

Question 1

Hansen et al. study

Answer 1

• data on fluidity of both sexual orientation and sexual identity
• adults older than 18 yr, 4.1% report a change in sexual orientation and 3.6% report a change in gender identity
• more adapt to change identity, 13.5% report a change in sexual orientation and 9.3% report a change in gender identity
• sexual orientation and gender identity can change over time, particularly for ados

Question 2

fetal gonads evolvement

Answer 2

• at 6 weeks = testes
• at 12 weeks = ovaries

Question 3

genetic dimorphism

Answer 3

• internal and external of 2 basic bio sexes

Question 4

fetal hormones

Answer 4

• testes produce fetal androgens, muellerian inhibitory substance
• promotes wolffian ducts
• muellerian system withers
• variations: high levels of androgens to XX impact external genitalia, masculinze)

Question 5

without fetal hormones

Answer 5

• genitals differentiate into female form (protoypical human)
• both M and W produce androgens (M far more, sometimes W produce more than typical amounts)

Question 6

baby’s sex, social influence

Answer 6

• baby’s sex based on genital dimorphism (boy or girl)
• social influences important: colour of clothing as marker
• choices (name, pronoun) and actions/comments by others remind and reinforce this label
• help define gender identity for the child to some extent

Question 7

body image

Answer 7

• how we visualize or imagine our bodies
• strongly influenced by others (normal or abnormal)
• own body image contributes to gender identity

Question 8

sexual brain dimorphism

Answer 8

• evidence from nonhumans through experiments
• some direct evidence of sex differences in human brains
• some inferential data on humans that suggests that human brain prenatally influenced by fetal hormones

Question 9

brain dimorphism: indirect evidence

Answer 9

• female child (XX) exposed to high level of androgen, but surgically treated early and then raised as girl
• “tomboyish” behaviour compared to controls (self-assertive, athletic, functional in dress, boy’s games, achievement v. romance or marriage)
• some effect on sexual orienation
• not a particularly strong determinant in most cases
• modifications due to learning and social factors

Question 10

child’s gender role

parents

Answer 10

• parents treat babies differently according to sex/gender
• more limits for girls
• g: rewards for appearing attractive
• b: rewards for physical performace
• play (5-11): organized sports (changing), type of quiet play
• has bio basis as well, based on early hormone exposure

Question 11

child’s gender role

school, media

Answer 11

• school system: nursery schools have toys seperated by gender and different expectations about ability
• media presentations or role model: TV commericals, music, movies, magazines, books, video games, ect. (what is natural, right, and preordained)(models provide opportunity for imitative learning)
• direct reinforcement and punishement

Question 12

george (a cis male) is fearless on the monkey bars, leaping from 1 to the other even though he has fallen several times before. This behaviour is consistent with our culture’s sense of his (gender identity, gender role, sexual orientation, body image)

Answer 12

• gender role