Psychodynamic Explanations

• What stage does Freud believe gender development occurs?

  Phallic stage
• Why does Freud think children have no gender identity before the phallic stage?

  They are bisexual, neither masculine nor feminine
• What complexes are crucial for the formation of gender identity according to Freud?

  Oedipus and Electra complexes
• What is the Oedipus Complex?

  • Boys develop sexual feelings for their mother
  • They see their father as a rival
  • Fear of castration from their father
  • Resolve conflict by identifying with their father
  • Develop a strong male identity through this identification
• What do boys fear during the Oedipus complex?

  Castration by their father
• How do boys resolve the Oedipus complex?

  By identifying with their father
• What is the Electra Complex?

  • Girls notice they lack a penis
  • They see their mother as a rival for their father's love
  • They believe they have been castrated by their mother
  • Substitute penis envy with desire for children
  • Develop a weaker female identity through identification with their mother
• What do girls experience in the Electra complex?

  Penis envy
• Why do girls develop a weaker identity than boys according to Freud?


  Their fear is not as strong as boys'
• What is identification in Freud's theory?

  Desire to associate with someone desirable
• How does Freud view identification for girls compared to boys?

  It is less strong for girls
• What can fixation in the phallic stage lead to?

  Immoral behavior and gender identity issues
• What evidence supports the Oedipus complex?

  • Case study of Little Hans
  • Fear of horses linked to castration anxiety
  • Displacement of fear onto horses
  • Subjective interpretation limits generalizability
• What did Levin's report on mental patients suggest?

  Unresolved Electra complex may cause issues
• What issue arises from Patterson's findings?

  Theory lacks predictive validity
• How was Freud criticized for his views on gender?

  He was seen as gender biased
• What is a criticism of Freud's concepts regarding scientific rigor?

  They lack testability and are unfalsifiable
• How do Freud's ideas compare to Gender Schema Theory?

  • Similar age for acquiring gender identity
  • Identification with same-sex parent aligns with in-group preferences
  • Differences in approach to gender development