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Sexual and Gender Identity & Sexual and Gender Disorders. Main Ideas. What is gender identity? How does gender identity develop? Theories of gender development. Important Vocabulary . Sex - Male/female-based upon chromosomes (xx or xy) What’s between your legs.
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Main Ideas • What is gender identity? • How does gender identity develop? • Theories of gender development.
Important Vocabulary • Sex- Male/female-based upon chromosomes (xx or xy) What’s between your legs. • Gender- Cultural, social, and psychological meanings associated with masculinity or femininity. What’s between your ears. • Gender Identity- a person’s psychological sense of being male or female. • Sexual Orientation- a person's emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction to individuals of a particular sex(not a preference). What’s in your heart. • They prefer pizza & boys to chocolate & girls???
Biological correlates of sexual orientation • Evidence strongest in males • Gays & lesbians fall in between straight males & females • 1. Brain differences • One hypothalamic cell cluster larger in straight males than females and gay males • Anterior commissure is larger in gay males than females or straight males • Gay males hypothalamus reacts the same as females to smell of sex related hormones
Biological correlates of sexual orientation (contd.) • 2. Genetic Influences • Shared sexual orientation is higher among identical twins than fraternal twins • Sexual orientation in fruit flies can be genetically manipulated • 3. Pre-hormonal Influences • Altered prenatal hormone exposure may lead to homosexuality in humans & other animals • Males with several older brothers more likely to be homosexual • These three differences/influences may contribute to observable gay-straight differences in… • Spatial ability Fingerprint ridge counts • Handedness Occupational preferences • Relative finger length Gender nonconformity, etc.
Important Vocabulary • Gender Roles- behaviors, attitudes, and personality traits designated as masculine/feminine. • Gender Stereotypes- oversimplified beliefs about male/female behavior • Gender Schema- cluster of physical qualities, behaviors, and personality traits associated w/one sex. • Modeling- Social learning through observation and imitation of others. (Bandura’s Bobo doll)
Development of Gender Identity (Bee 1998) • Gender identity: 1-3 yrs • Gender stability: 3 - 4 yrs • Gender constancy: 5 - 6 yrs
Gender Schema Theory • Links cognitive development with social learning theory in the sense that schemas are socialisedcognitive networks of sex & gender roles • People with high gender schemas are more prone to stereotypic perception & behaviour • High schemas facilitate the creation of cognitive heuristics (gender stereotypes & gender values)
Social Learning Theory • Almost from birth children are treated in gender specific ways (e.g. birthday cards, toys, & dress) • Parents & society reinforce gender specific behaviours & attitudes • Boys and girls imitate males & females respectively
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-Did-Girls-Start-Wearing-Pink.htmlhttp://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-Did-Girls-Start-Wearing-Pink.html
Identity Constructed Theory Bee (1998) suggests 3 stages: • This theory emphasises the individual’s sense of commitment to a gender category. • The gender category may conflict with social norms (McManus 1999) - may lead to gender dysphoria
Enculturated-Lens Theory • Development of gender identity is embedded in socio-historical context of each culture • Culture operates as lens through which gender identity & gender roles are defined & passed on as memes of behaviour • Memes-A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another • Androgyny is the socialised freedom to identify with male or female roles (Bem 1993).
Biological Theory • Biologists argue that males with Klinefelter’s syndrome (males with extra x=xxy) & females with Turner’s syndrome (females with a damaged/missing x) may have a very different gender identity • Intersexed infants (born with both male & female genitals) may have to decide which gender category they belong • Hermaphrodites • http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/BornHermaphrodite/
Biological Theory contd. • Biological characteristics may partly explain gender differences • Hormonal activities tend to influence mind and body (e.g. aggression & emotionality) • Estrogen (associated with xx) may be a protective hormone associated with longevity • Estrogen may also be associated with the slow processing of alcohol & quicker intoxication
Gender Identity Disorder • Gender Dysmorphic - those unhappy with their anatomical sex who wish to be of the opposite sex • A male with GID experiences his sexual interest in men as a conventional heterosexual orientation • Doesn’t consider himself homosexual, instead, a female trapped in a man’s body • Biological studies (e.g., hormones, chromosomal abnormalities) have been inconclusive • In children with GID, parents are more accepting of their cross-gender behavior
The Paraphilias (the experience of intense sexual arousal to atypical objects, situations, or individuals.) • Fetishism - reliance on an inanimate object for sexual arousal • Transvestic Fetishism - a man who is aroused by dressing in women’s clothing, although he still regards himself as a man (usually heterosexual) • Pedophilia - adults, usually men, who derive sexual gratification exclusively through physical and often sexual contact with prepubertal children • ***95% of known Pedophiles are heterosexual*** • Voyeurism- arousal from observing an unsuspecting person who is disrobing, naked, or engaged in sexual activity
The Paraphilias (unusual sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors) • Exhibitionism-sexual arousal by exposing one’s genitals to shocked strangers. • Frotteurism- sexual arousal from touching and rubbing against a nonconsenting person (crowds, bus, subway car, etc.) • Sexual Sadism- arousal from intentionally inflicting psychological or physical suffering on another person. • Sexual Masochism- arousal in response to being humiliated, beaten, bound, or made to suffer. • BDSM-bondage, domination, sado-masochism