A03

• Point: A strength of Freud's theory is that there is some support for the role of the Oedipus complex in gender development.

  Evidence: For example, Rekers and Morey (1990) found a connection between father absence and gender identity issues in boys.

  Explain: They rated the gender identity of 49 boys aged 3-11 years and discovered that 75% of those judged to be ‘gender disturbed’ had neither their biological father nor a substitute father living with them.

  Link: Therefore, this suggests that being raised without a father may negatively impact gender identity, aligning with Freud's predictions.
• Point: However, the relationship between absent fathers and problems of gender identity is generally not supported.

  Evidence: For example, Bos and Sandfort (2010) compared children raised by lesbian parents to those from traditional families.

  Explain: The study found that children with lesbian parents felt less pressure to conform to gender stereotypes and did not exhibit differences in psychosocial adjustment or gender identity.

  Link: Therefore, this contradicts Freud's theory, suggesting that fathers are not necessary for healthy gender identity development.
• Point: One limitation is Freud's inadequate account of women's development.

  Evidence: For example, Freud's concept of penis envy has been criticised as reflecting the male dominated Victorian era where men held so much power. 

  Explain: Feminist psychoanalyst Horney (1942) argued that womb envy, experienced by men, is a more powerful emotion, suggesting that these envies are cultural rather than biological.

  Link: Therefore, this challenges the idea that women's gender development is based on a desire to be like men, highlighting the androcentric bias in Freud's theory
• Another limitation is that the psychodynamic explanation lacks scientific credibility.

  For example, Freud's methods have been criticised for their lack of scientific rigour and the untestable nature of many of his concepts.

  His use of subjective case studies and concepts like penis envy, which are largely unconscious and cannot be scientifically tested, contrasts sharply with other gender explanations based on objective, verifiable evidence.

  Therefore, this questions the validity of Freud's theory, as it is not based on sound scientific evidence and is considered pseudoscientific.