AO3 - Psychodynamic Explanation of Gender

• The psychodynamic explanation of gender development is supported by clinical case studies such as Little Hans.
• Rekers & Morey (1990) support the idea that most children are raised by at least one same-sex parent. They rated the gender identity of 49 boys aged 3-11 years based on interviews with their families and the children themselves.
• Rekers & Morey (1990) argue that in 75% of boys judged to be ‘gender disturbed’ had neither their biological father nor a substitute father living with them. This lack of a male role model may have had and negative impact upon their gender identity.
• Rekers & Morey (1990) support Freud's theory that for normal gender development boys must be raised by at least one male parent. Having no male role model could result in a negative impact on gender identity.
• Bos & Sandfort (2010) compared data from 63 children where both parents were lesbians and 68 children from ‘traditional’ families. Children raised by lesbian parents felt less pressure to conform to gender stereotypes and had no differences in terms of psychosocial adjustment or gender identity.
• Bos & Sandfort (2010) contradict Freud's theory by suggesting that fathers are not necessary for healthy gender identity development.
• Case studies include subjective data collection and data analysis which limits their generalisation.
• Freud has been criticised for the lack of scientific rigour in his research methods, and for many of his ideas which are untestable because they are largely unconscious.
• Karl Popper (1959) argues that Freud's psychodynamic theories are pseudo-scientific and cannot be falsified, which questions the validity of his ideas.
• Freud's theories lack adequate accounts of female development, which limits its validity.
• Much of Freud's research in the psychodynamic explanation is androcentric.
• Honey (1942) argues that a more powerful emotion than penis envy is ‘womb envy’ – a reaction to women’s ability to nurture and create life.
• Both the Electra and Oedipus complex were theoretical ideas put forward by Freud but there is no way of testing them scientifically. However, we are unable to falsify these ideas, so have to accept their existence.
• Psychodynamic explanations for gender development lack temporal validity as they reflect the stereotypical gender roles in the early 1900s, which do not represent society today.
• Contrasting theories of gender development such as the cognitive explanation have more scientific credibility, as these ideas can be tested experimentally.
• Cognitive theories of gender development such as that of Kohlberg suggest that gender gradually develops as a child’s cognitive capacity increases. This is in contrast to Freud's psychodynamic explanation which claims that gender is acquired all at once.