Essay plans for paper 3

• Sex, gender, sex-role stereotypes & androgyny A01

  -key ideas: differences between sex and gender, male and female sex role stereotypes, gender identity is closely linked to sex-role stereotypes.

  -androgyny: mixture of both sets of stereotypes. Ben: high androgyny -> better psychological well-being.

  -measuring androgyny: BSRI. describe test, how it was constructed, what it measures.
• Sex, gender, sex-role stereotypes & androgyny evaluation A03

  +Reliability & validity of the BSRI

  +Importance for equality movements

  -Dependence on self-report methods

  -Link between androgyny & psychological well-being questioned

  -Overly simple (reductionist)

  -May lack cultural & historic validity

  -Lacks explanatory power
• Chromosomes & hormones A01

  -genes & chromosomes, sex chromosomes which determine the biological sex of a person (Males XY Female XX).

  -Importance of the Y chromosome: causes activation of androgens (male hormones) testosterone -> physical and pot. psychological differences.

  -evidence for sex chromosomes causing gender differences:

  1. Case studies (David Reimer)

  2. Research on T (hormones could create diff. temperaments)

  3. Transgender studies (Van Goozen 1995)

  4. Other hormones (oxytocin)

  5. Barn Cohen's E-S Theory

  -atypical chromosome patterns: Klinefelter's & Turner's
• Chromosomes & hormones evaluation A03

  +Concurrent validity

  +Not just physical

  +Atypical sex chromosomes

  +Uses and applications

  -Contradictory evidence

  -Correlation, not causation

  -Samples

  -Reductionist
• Cognitive explanations for gender development A01

  -Kohlberg's theory: S1 Gender identity S2 Gender stability S3 Gender consistency. Not until S3 that a child will pay particular attention to, learn about & engage fully in gender appropriate behaviour.

  -Slaby & Frey have provided research support for all 3 stages.

  -schema theory: schemas, how schemas affect memory, in-group processes & out-group processes & modelling (Link to SLT).

  -evidence from Martin & Halverson
• Cognitive explanations for gender development evaluation A03

  +Both empirically testable explanations

  +Kohlberg: universal

  +Schema: applications

  -Gender differences

  -Methodological problems

  -Refining the theories

  -Underappreciates bio. factors

  *Combining the theories - cognitive awareness (schema) & motivation (Kohlberg).
• Psychodynamic explanation for gender development A01

  -psychosexual stages: crucial to gender dev. = phallic stage (starts c.3 years)

  -boys -> oedipus complex; castration anxiety; identification w/the aggressor.

  -girls -> electra complex; penis envy; identification w/mother.

  -failure to identify with the same sex parents -> sexual & gender identity problems later in life.

  -evidence: Little Hans. Fear of horses - had developed castration anxiety (displaced onto horses). Once he identified with his father, oedipus complex was resolved & fear cured.
• Psychodynamic explanation for gender development A03

  +Supporting evidence

  +Importance of the unconscious & applications (IWM)

  -Weak evidence

  -Can't explain non-nuclear families

  -Unfalsifiable theory

  -Androcentric theory

  -More appropriate explanations