9 detailed essay plans for the gender topic of paper 3 AQA Psychology. Based on the Illuminate publishing textbook, answering the 16 markers provided for each topic. These condensed but detailed plans can be translated into high-mark essays.
AO1:
- Androgyny is displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics
in one’s personality.
- Bem researched androgyny and used a scale presenting 20 characteristics
that are typically female, male, and neutral.
- Respondents were asked to rank themselves on a 7-point scale for each item
based on how much they thought it was true about them.
- Scores where then classified on the basis of two dimensions, masculine-
feminine and androgynous-undifferentiated.
AO3:
- One strength of Bems work is that it is measured quantitatively. Bem’s
numerical approach is useful for research processes when it is necessary for
example to quantify the dependent variable. This suggests that quantitative
research is beneficial to studying different aspects of androgyny.
- HOWEVER: Spence argues that qualitative and quantitative both have to be
used together because there is more to gender than a set of behaviours
typical to each gender. This suggests they must be used together.
- Another strength is that at the time, it was valid and reliable. Bem’s scale was
developed using 50 male and 50 female judges who rated each trait based on
how much it represented ‘maleness’ and ‘femaleness’. Furthermore, it was
piloted to 1000 students and the results corresponded with the participants
own description of their gender identity. In addition, a follow up study found
the same students produced similar scores a month later showing test-retest
reliability.
- One limitation is that it has no temporal validity. 40 years old, ideas about
gender have changed, emergence of men helping out. Was also done with
people from the USA so no culture generalisability.
Discuss the role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender [16 marks]
AO1:
- The role of chromosomes: chromosomes are made from DNA, with the
chromosomal structure for women being XX and for men XY.
- All normal eggs produced by a human ovary produce an X chromosome and
sperm carry either an X or Y chromosome, essentially determining the sex.
- Within the Y chromosome is a gene called the ‘sex-determining region Y’,
which produces androgens and causes testes to develop.
- The role of hormones: most gender development is actually the result of
hormones.
- Prenatally in the womb, hormones act upon brain development and cause the
development of reproductive organs.
- At puberty, a burst of hormonal activity triggers the development of secondary
sexual characteristics such as pubic hair.
Men and women produce many of the same hormones but in different
concentrations, with a main example being testosterone.
- Testosterone: a male hormone that controls the development of male sex
organs during foetal development. If there is a lack of testosterone in a
, genetic male baby, then no sex organs appear, but if there is a large amount
in a genetic female, then male sex organs may appear. Testosterone is also
linked to high levels of aggression.
- Oestrogen is a female hormone that determines female sexual characteristics
and menstruation. As well as physical changes it may cause premenstrual
tension which causes high irritability and heightened emotionality during the
menstrual cycle.
- Oxytocin, known as the love hormone, is produced in high quantities during
childbirth, and during intimacy. It allows for bonding between mother and child
and reduces cortisol, the stress hormone.
AO3:
- One strength is that evidence supports the role of sex hormones in gender
development, even in mature males. Christina Wang found that, in men with
biologically lower levels of testosterone, when given testosterone therapy,
their sexual function, libido and mood significantly increased along with
muscle strength. This shows that testosterone exerts a powerful and direct
influence on male sexual arousal, as well as physical development in
adulthood.
- However, Connor et al found that there were no significant increases in the
interactional or non-interactional components of sexual behaviour in
participants who had their testosterone levels increased. There was also no
change in their anger levels. This suggests that additional testosterone may
have no effect on sexual or aggressive behaviour, but this does not challenge
its role in early development.
- One limitation is that it ignores the role of social factors in gender-related
behaviour.
- Hofstede found that gender roles around the world are much more a
consequence of social norms than biology. They argued that some countries
who placed individual competition and independence above the needs of the
community are more masculine in their outlook such as capitalist countries
like the UK and USA. This challenges biological explanations of gender
behaviour and suggests that social factors may ultimately be more important
in shaping gender behaviour and attitudes. Another limitation is that they are
reductionist. Accounts that reduce gender to the level of chromosomes and
hormones have been accused of ignoring or underplaying alternative
explanations like the cognitive approach that would argue for the role of
schema and the psychodynamic approach that would argue for maturation as
a factor. This suggests gender is more complex than its biological influences
alone.
Discuss atypical sex chromosome patterns and what they tell us about gender
development [16 marks]
AO1:
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