hormones

• what are hormones determined by?


  chromosomes
• what are the three main hormones thought to affect sex and gender


  testosterone

  oestrogen

  oxytocin
• what does testosterone affect


  the development of genitalia

  • some XY individuals have an insensitivity to it, which can lead to no external male genitalia developing which may cause them to be raised as girls

  brain development (prenatally and later in childhood)

  • supported by Bailey et al, gave pregnant women male hormones and their XX babies later showed more tomboyish behavior and more of an interest in male activities

  secondary sexual characteristics eg facial hair during puberty
• what is the default gender

  female, a genetic male will develop only when exposed to testosterone
• what does oestrogen affect?


  not the development of genitalia (default gender is female)

  potential to lead to a smaller brain size - Shi et al

  promotes secondary sexual characteristics eg breast development and the menstural cycle and pregnancy
• what is oxytocin?


  a hormone that promotes feelings of bonding in men and women (the 'love' hormone)
• what feelings does oxytocicn evoke


  contentment and calmness
• what does oxytocin affect?


  in women its important in breastfeeding

  related to orgasm and faster wound healing

  in times of stress, it dampens the fight or flight responce