PYC4805
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Assignment 2
ESSAY EXAMPLES 2022
ESSAY QUESTION:
DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
Childhood and Adolescence:
-2 essays submitted in 2021
Being born a boy or a girl often has implications that go beyond
chromosomal, hormonal, and genital differences. -reference lists attached
Write an argumentative essay about the roles of biological -correct structure of an
features (nature) and socialised stereotyping (nurture) in the argumentative essay
development of gender identity in childhood and adolescence.
, EXAMPLE ESSAY 1
INTRODUCTION
“Being born a boy or a girl has implications that carry considerably beyond the
chromosomal, hormonal, and genital differences. Virtually all of human function has a
gender cast – appearances, mannerism, communication, temperament, activities at home and
outside, aspiration, and values” (Ruble, Martin, & Berenbaum, 2006, p. 858).
As noted above, we need to ask ourselves what the general explanations and influences are
during the development of gender identity in childhood and adolescence because some
research theorists believe that there are scientific explanations as to why children behave the
way they do throughout childhood into adolescence.
But firstly, we need to understand the meanings of gender, gender identity, gender role,
nature and nurture: -
a. Gender refers to “sex”, “and especially in feminist psychology, the behavioural, social, and
cultural attributes associated with sex” (Colman, 2015).
b. Gender identity signifies the awareness sense which gets under way from babyhood, being
male or female, that continues throughout their upbringing, and maturing in the course of
their adolescence (Colman, 2015).
c. Gender role can be defined as a set of behavioural patterns, “attitudes, and personality
characteristics stereotypically perceived as masculine or feminine within a culture”
(Colman, 2015).
d. Nature pertains to the innate biological stimulus on one’s behaviour when born which
encapsulates chromosomes, genes, and hormones (Belsky, 2018).
e. Nurture is the pertinent influence of one’s culture, environment, parents, role-models,
education, and etcetera (Belsky, 2018).
Thus, how does the environment or nurturing influence a child’s behaviourism and identity?
In what manner does one perceive the causative affects thereof? And especially, in what way
does gender identity influence childhood and adolescence preferences? When does a child
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Assignment 2
ESSAY EXAMPLES 2022
ESSAY QUESTION:
DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
Childhood and Adolescence:
-2 essays submitted in 2021
Being born a boy or a girl often has implications that go beyond
chromosomal, hormonal, and genital differences. -reference lists attached
Write an argumentative essay about the roles of biological -correct structure of an
features (nature) and socialised stereotyping (nurture) in the argumentative essay
development of gender identity in childhood and adolescence.
, EXAMPLE ESSAY 1
INTRODUCTION
“Being born a boy or a girl has implications that carry considerably beyond the
chromosomal, hormonal, and genital differences. Virtually all of human function has a
gender cast – appearances, mannerism, communication, temperament, activities at home and
outside, aspiration, and values” (Ruble, Martin, & Berenbaum, 2006, p. 858).
As noted above, we need to ask ourselves what the general explanations and influences are
during the development of gender identity in childhood and adolescence because some
research theorists believe that there are scientific explanations as to why children behave the
way they do throughout childhood into adolescence.
But firstly, we need to understand the meanings of gender, gender identity, gender role,
nature and nurture: -
a. Gender refers to “sex”, “and especially in feminist psychology, the behavioural, social, and
cultural attributes associated with sex” (Colman, 2015).
b. Gender identity signifies the awareness sense which gets under way from babyhood, being
male or female, that continues throughout their upbringing, and maturing in the course of
their adolescence (Colman, 2015).
c. Gender role can be defined as a set of behavioural patterns, “attitudes, and personality
characteristics stereotypically perceived as masculine or feminine within a culture”
(Colman, 2015).
d. Nature pertains to the innate biological stimulus on one’s behaviour when born which
encapsulates chromosomes, genes, and hormones (Belsky, 2018).
e. Nurture is the pertinent influence of one’s culture, environment, parents, role-models,
education, and etcetera (Belsky, 2018).
Thus, how does the environment or nurturing influence a child’s behaviourism and identity?
In what manner does one perceive the causative affects thereof? And especially, in what way
does gender identity influence childhood and adolescence preferences? When does a child
