Atypical Gender Development

• What is GID?


  Gender identity disorder (GID)is sometimes referred to as gender dysphoria.An individual with gender identity disorder has aconflict between their biological sex and their psychological gender identity.(approx 1 in 5,000)Many people with GID opt for gender reassignment.Individuals with gender identity disorder may show early signs through an unwillingness to dress as a boy or a girl but can eventually lead to feelings of disgust with their own physical appearance.Can be seen as a 'mental illness
• GID according to the DSM-5


  • An incongruence, present for six months or longer, between the child's experienced/expressed gender and the gender they were assigned at birth•A strong desire to be of the other gender/Insist they are another gender• In boys (assigned gender), a strong preference for wearing or simulating female attire, and/or a resistance to wearing traditional masculine clothing• In girls (assigned gender), a strong preference for wearing typical masculine clothing, and/or a resistance to wearing traditional feminine clothing• A strong preference for cross-gender roles in make-believe or fantasy play•A strong dislike of one's sexual anatomy
• Biological explanations for GID

  Much of the research into biological factors associated with gender identity disorderfocus on genes and hormones.
• Hormones and GID


  Research into the influence of prenatal hormones have shown issues with the production of the male hormone androgen, in determining gender dysphoria.Zucker & Green (1992)suggest that problems with gender dysphoria can arise when androgen is not produced or cell receptors do not respond to it.However, other research loooking at hormone levels in people with GID have not be able to find a difference
• Genetics and GID


  The genetic explanation for gender dysphoria looks for inherited characteristics that run in families or in the concordance rate of twins studies.Coolidge et al (2002)assessed 157 twin pairs for evidence of gender dysphoria. They found that 62% of the variance could be accounted for by genetic factors, suggesting a strong heritable component.However, small sample which limits generalisability
• Limitations of bio approach

  Greenfound that GID has been found to lessen with age which would support the idea that the condition is not due to biology.

  Rekers (1995)found that individuals with male to female gender identity disorder did lack a stereotypical male role model meaning they did not have a strong male role model to identify and imitate. This supports the social learning claim that GID may be caused by environmental rather than Biological factors.
• social explanation for GID


  SLT, psychoanalytic and cognitive
• SLT and GID


  Some psychologists claim the gender identity disorder can be explained by social factors such asreinforcement (OC) and role models.In early childhood many children experiment with gender roles as they learn what gender is all about. Positive reinforcement encourages children to adopt gender specific behaviours.Some psychologists argue that gender identity disorder could be the result of a lack of suitable same-sex role models.
• Rekers (1995) AO3 - support SLT


  Rekers (1995)found that individuals with male to female gender identity disorder did lack a stereotypical male role model meaning they did not have a strong male role model to identify and imitate. This supports the social learning claim that GID may be caused by environmental rather than Biological factors.However, doesn't really explain why many people with GID have such a strong belief that they are the opposite sex, that they are willing to face bullying, prejudice and discrimination in order to "be" the opposite sex.
• Freud (psychoanalytic approach)


  Freud would argue that children who do not fully resolve the Oedipus or Electra complex during the phallic psycho-sexual stage of development, will be atrisk of developing a gender identity disorderas a consequence.
• Coates & Person (1985) AO3 - support

  Coates & Person (1985)suggest when a severe form of separation anxiety is found in males, who remain psychologically attached to their mother, they can develop a gender identity to replace the mother.

  However interactionists would say Gender identity disorder is intensified during puberty when hormonal changes alongside social and emotional changes are taking place.Those raised in lone-parent families go on to develop a normal GI. This challenges the validity of freud
• Liben and Bigler (cognitive approach)

  dual pathway theoryFirstly, gender schemas lead to gender appropriate attitudes and behaviours as part of normal development. The second more "personal" pathway describes how the childs attitudes towards gender are affected by his or her own activity. For example, the individuals interests may dominate over their gender identity leading to changes in the child's gender schemas. For example a boy who finds himself playing with dolls may come to believe that this is for boys and girls. This leads to a non sex-typed schema. Whilst in most this may result in androgynous behaviours and a flexible attitude, in others the formation of GID may develop.