the role of chromosomes and hormones

• strength of role of chromosomes and hormones?

  P - evidence supports role of sex hormones in gender development.

  E - link between increased testosterone and sexual behaviour was confirmed in a study by wang et al. male hypogonadism is a condition caused by a man's testes failing to produce normal levels of the testosterone. gave 227 hypogonadal men testosterone therapy for 180 days. changes in body shape, muscle strength, sexual function, libido all monitored and all improved and significant increases in muscle strength.

  L - shows that testosterone exerts a powerful and direct influence on male sexual arousal and physical development.
• CA for strength of role of chromosomes and hormones?

  P - other evidence on the effect on the testosterone less convincing.

  E - in a double blind placebo study O'Connor et al increased testosterone levels in healthy young men. there was no significant increases in the international or non intersectional components of sexual behaviour in participants. the men involved experienced no change in their aggression or anger levels too.

  L - additional testosterone has no effect on sexual or aggressive behaviour
• limitation of biological accounts?

  P - ignore the role of social factors in gender related behaviours.

  E - hofstede et al claim that gender roles around the world are much more a consequence of socials norms than biology. these researchers equate notions of masculinity and femininity with whether whole cultures are individualist or collectivist. countries that place individual competition and independence above the needs of community are more masculine in their outlook. would include advanced capitalist societies like US or UK. Consequently traditional masculine traits will be more highly valued within these societies.

  L - challenges biological explanations of gender behaviour and suggests social factors are more important in shaping gender behaviour and attitudes.
• another limitation of biological explanations of gender?

  P - reductionist.

  E - accounts that reduce gender to the levels of chromosomes and hormones have been accused of ignoring or underplaying alternative explanations. cognitive approach would draw attention to influence of thought processes such as schema. even though changes in thought processes may come about through maturation of the developing brain they're not adequately explained by the biological model. psychodynamic approach would acknowledge maturation as a factor but point to importance of childhood experiences such as inetrcstions within family.

  L - gender is more complex than its biological influences alone.