psychodynamic explanations for gender development

• What are the stages of Freud's psychosexual development?

  1. Oral Stage (0-1 years)
  2. Anal Stage (1-3 years)
  3. Phallic Stage (3-6 years)
  4. Latency Stage (6-12 years)
  5. Genital Stage (12+ years)
• What is the focus of pleasure during the oral stage?

  The mouth
• What is formed during the anal stage?

  The ego
• What occurs during the phallic stage?

  Gender identity develops through Oedipus/Electra complex
• What happens during the latency stage?

  Early conflicts are repressed
• What is a key aspect of the genital stage?

  Sexual desires become conscious
• What does Freud believe about children before the phallic stage?

  They are gender neutral
• How do children resolve the Oedipus/Electra complex according to Freud?

  By identifying with the same-sex parent
• What are the criticisms of Freud's psychodynamic theory of gender development?

  • Androcentric and alpha biased
  • Lacks scientific rigor and is unfalsifiable
  • Does not explain non-nuclear family dynamics
  • Reductionist, ignoring biological factors
• What does the term "internalisation" refer to in Freud's theory?

  Adopting the gender identity of the same-sex parent
• What is a limitation of Freud's methods in studying gender development?

  They lack scientific rigor
• How does Freud's theory view gender development?

  As psychically deterministic
• What is a significant limitation of the psychodynamic explanation for gender development?

  It ignores biological factors
• What does the inflexibility in gender development imply?


  Some children develop traditional roles despite non-stereotypical environments
• What stage of development does Freud associate with gender development?

  The phallic stage
• What is the Oedipus complex?

  Desire for the mother and jealousy of the father
• How do boys resolve the Oedipus complex?

  By identifying with the father
• What is the Electra complex?

  Attraction to the father and penis envy
• How do girls resolve the Electra complex?

  By identifying with the mother
• What is a criticism of Freud's theory regarding scientific validity?

  Based on untestable concepts
• What gender bias exists in Freud's theory?

  Portrays female development as based on envy
• What evidence contradicts Freud's claims about same-sex parents?

  Children from same-sex households develop typical identities
• What do psychodynamic explanations suggest about parenting styles?

  They may contribute to a child's gender identity
• What is a criticism of psychodynamic explanations regarding empirical support?

  They lack strong empirical evidence