Summary AQA alevel psychology gender notes

Gender Poppy Stone


Gender
Sex, Gender and Stereotypes
Sex- it is biological and determined by chromosomes

 Sex is innate and the result of nature
 ‘Sex change’ is not actually a sex change it is known as a gender reassignment

Gender- a persons psychological status as either masculine or feminine

 Includes attitudes, roles and behaviours
 Gender is a partially environmentally determined so due to nurture

Sex role stereotypes

 Shared expectation within a society regarding what is appropriate behaviour for men and
women
 Stereotypes are fixed beliefs about a particular group of people e.g., men are strong, and
women are caring
 Roles are the behaviours individuals show in a particular situation which are affected by
expectations


Smith and Lloyd-

 Researchers individually videotaped a sample of 32 mothers playing with a baby for 10
minutes.
 Four babies of 6 months old were used in the study, 2
 They dressed the baby as either a boy or girl and gave it a traditional boy or girl name
 The mother was able to choose which toy they should play with from a selection
including a hammer, a doll, and a ball
 When the mother thought she was playing with a boy, she verbally encouraged more
motor activity than when she thought she was playing with a girl.
 In both cases, gender appropriate toys were selected
 This shows that children are put under the influence of stereotypes at a very young age
by their environment




Androgyny and the BSRI
Androgyny- A personality type that is characterised by a balance of masculine and feminine trait

Bem-

 Developed a method for measuring androgyny the Bem Sex role Inventory (BSRI)
 She said those who are highly androgynous are most psychologically healthy and have
high self-worth
 BSRI-
o 60 characteristics
o 20 feminine, 20 masculine, 20 neutral
o Respondents rate themselves on a 7 point scale

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, Gender Poppy Stone


The role of chromosomes and hormones
Role of chromosomes

 Genes are short sections of DNA that determine our characteristics
 23 pairs of DNA in body and last determines our sex
 Females are XX, males are XY
 Females sex hormones are oestrogen
 Male sex hormones are testosterone

Role of hormones

 Chromosomes determine persons sex
 Most gender development comes from influence of hormones
 Prenatally and puberty
Testosterone
o Male hormone controls development of male sex organs
o Associated with masculinity of the brain and links to aggression
Oestrogen
o Female hormone determines female sexual characteristics and menstruation
o Can cause women to experience heightened emotionally during menstrual cycle
Oxytocin
o Women typically produce this in larger amounts than men as result of giving birth
o Stimulates lactation and reduces stress hormone
o Nicknamed love hormone
o Produced during amorous activities

Atypical sex chromosome pattern
Klinefelter’s syndrome

 Biologically male and appearance of a male
 Chromosome pattern of XXY
 Physical characteristics
o Reduced body hair
o Undeveloped genitals
o Problem with coordination
 Psychological characteristics
o Badly developed reading ability
o Tend to be shy and lack interest in sexual activity
o Don’t respond well to stress

Turners’ syndrome

 Biologically female
 Absence of chromosome so XO
 Physical characteristics
o No menstrual cycle
o Physically immature
o Do not develop breasts
 Psychological characteristics

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