Chromosomes lead to gonads which produce hormones, they affect the brain which affects our behaviour
Chromosomes - Men:XY Women:XX
Main Hormone - Men: Testosterone Women: Oestrogen
Alternative theory - Freud
Argued we had underlying and instinctive behaviour which causes our behaviour
Our libido is the drive within us that dictates our gender behaviour
At age of 4 child enters the phallic stage of development
Oedipus for boys and Electra for girls
Libido develops desire for opposite sex
Fear same sex parent finding out and taking drastic action against them
Boys fear father will castrate them (removal of penis)
Girls think they have already been castrated and suffer penis envy, feel less than boys
To deal with fear/anxiety they identify with same sex parent and start copying their actions to try and replace them to gain gratification from opposite sex parent
Core study -Diamond & Sigmundson
1965 twins born called Bruce & Brian
During routine circumcision at 8 months old Bruce had penis burnt off
Money advised family To bring Bruce up as a female, at 17 months old Bruce had his testes removed to stop male hormones
Started taking female hormones
Still showed masculine behaviour and features
Age 13 discovered truth from parents and stopped taking female hormones and hatred to act more like a boy
Had sex operation to become a male again and got married and adopted wife's kids
Committed suicide at ages of 38 in 2004
Applications
Psychologists have founds boys have better maths & science skills and girls better language & social