The Role of Chromosomes and Hormones Flashcards
Define Chromosomes:
Found in the nucleus of living cells carrying information in the form of genes
Which chromosome determines biological sex?
23rd pair
What is a gene?
Short sections of DNA that determine the characteristics of a living thing
What are male chromosomes?
XY
What are females chromosomes?
XX
What gene causes testes to develop?
RY gene
SRY gene produces…
Androgen
What androgen?
Male sex hormones to produce testes,
Define genitals:
External sex organs
Difference between female/male genitals?
- male = penis
- female = vagina
Main hormone for females?
Oestrogen and progesterone (produced in ovaries)
Main hormone for males?
Testosterone (produced in testes)
Describe :Case of David Reimer
- Twin boys Brian and Bruce born in 1965
- Psychologist John Money believed gender identity was based on NURTURE rather than nature.
- Bruce was brought up as a girl called Brenda
- But suffered psychologically and emotionally
- When told of being male she went back to living as a man
- Committed suicide in 2004
What do women produce much larger amounts of?
Oxytocin
What occurs at puberty?
Burst of hormonal activity triggering development of secondary sexual characteristics
Define the role of testosterone:
From the androgen group which is produced in the testes and is associated with aggression
Define the role of oestrogen:
Primary female hormone important in the menstrual cycle and reproductive system
Define the role of oxytocin:
Causes contraction of the uterus during labour and stimulates lactation
What is oxytocin known as?
The love hormone
What did Dabbs et al. (1995) find?
Found that offenders with the highest testosterone levels were most likely to have committed violent or sexually motivated crimes.
What did Van Goozen (1995) find?
Studied transgender individuals who were undergoing hormone treatment and being injected with hormones of the opposite sex. Transgender women (male-to-female) showed decreases in aggression and visuo-spatial skills whilst transgender men (female-to male) showed the opposite.
What did Tricker (1996) find?
- Double blind study where 43 males where injected with testosterone or a placebo.
- No significant difference in aggression between teh two groups
Why is the Biological approach reductionist?
Doesn’t consider cognitive approach/psychodynamic approach
Does this support nature or nurture?
Nature
Nature explanation:
- Innate differences between female and males
- Biologically programmed as females to nurtures and males to be providers
- Gender-related behaviour is entirely controlled by hormonal ad genetic factors.
Nurture view on gender behaviours?
-Gender related behaviour is entirely determined by social and cultural factors – our experiences and the environment in which we live.
