Chapter 10 Overview Flashcards
(19 cards)
Sexual orientation
Direction of a persons, emotional, and erotic attraction, whether toward members of the opposite sex, same sex, both sexes, or neither sex
Define gender role stereotype
Beliefs and expectations that people hold about the characteristics, preferences, and behaviors of men and women
Identify traits that are stereotypically attributed to the male and female gender roles
Male: aggressive, decisive, mechanically minded
Women: emotional, nurturing, patient
Identify an example of benevolent sexism
Benevolent sexism is a kind of sexism that seems positive, but actually reinforces traditional gender roles
Examples: saying women are naturally more nurturing and should stay home to take care of their children
Explain the concept of the psychological gender mosaic
– Almost all individuals display, combination of masculine and feminine characteristics, interest, attitudes, etc.
– Differences can’t be assumed to be biologically based or inevitable
– Differences between men and women are average differences, not absolute differences
Identify the personality traits that have consistently been observed to differ between the two sexes
Men: more assertive, thing oriented, dominant, controlling, independent
Women: more nurturing, people oriented, socially, sensitive, friendly, concerned with others welfare
Describe factors that may contribute to the stereotype of women as being more emotional than men
Women cry and smile more frequently than men
Expression of emotions, influenced by culturally determined rules: men have to restrict emotions. Expressing emotions is considered feminine.
Define toxic masculinity and describe the potential negative consequences of toxic masculinity for both men and women
Toxic masculinity: extreme adherence to cultural norms of masculinity
– Restricting emotions, displaying dominance
This limits men’s choices, interest, and overall health
Identify the cognitive abilities that have been observed to differ between the sexes and explain how cultural and social factors may contribute to those differences
Women score higher on fluency and verbal,reading, and writing skills
Men score higher on mental object rotation
Women score higher on recalling object locations
Males tend to score higher in math
Gender in early childhood
18 months: gender, labels, some behavioral sex differences
2 to 3 years: identify self and others as boys or girls
Three years: clear preference for toys, associated with sex, or indications of transgender identity
5 to 10 years: display, implicit, gender stereotypes
Children are far more rigid than adults in their beliefs and gender stereotypes
Boys more rigger than girls and toy, preference and attitude about the sexes
Girls become more flexible with age and view of sex, appropriate activities and attributes
In many ways, children’s behavior mirrors, the gender role area types that are predominant in our culture
Describe the role of learning and gender, schemas, and sociocultural theories of gender roles
Social learning theory of gender development(cognitive social learning theory)
Gender roles are required through basic processes of learning, including reinforcement punishment and modeling
From a very young age, children are reinforced or rewarded when they display gender, appropriate behavior, and punished when they do not.
Gender schema theory: gender development, influenced by the formation of schemas (mental representations) of masculinity and femininity
- Actively create gender categories as new information is assimilated into their existing gender schemas
- Labeling objects or influences children’s cognitive processes
Explain the role of evolution and biological theories of gender roles
– Many human behaviors are characteristics of our species that evolved because they were having advantageous for our survival
– Evolution viewed as causing gender differences through : sexual selection, parental investment.
– Gendered behavior arises from meat, preferences, and mating strategies
– An evolutionary origin does not mean that gender behavior is inherently natural for individuals or necessary and modern society
Describe the aim of interactionist theories of gender roles
– Biological and social factors, combined to produce division of labor between the male and female genders (men are physically, larger and stronger, women are biologically capable of infant care)
– Efficient division of labor, leads to societal expectations of male versus female behaviors, and roles. (men perceived as incompetent childcare, women perceived as unfit for roles requiring assertiveness.)
– Biological and sociocultural limitations might drive any given behavior
Define intersex
Biological sex is ambiguous, often combining, both male and female anatomy
– Arises from disruptions and prenatal development, many variations and combinations can occur
– Does not necessarily require medical treatment or lead to psychological problems
Many advocates for intersex youth, oppose surgical and other interventions and infancy
Define transgender
– A person psychological gender identity conflict with their biological sex assigned at birth
– Some people are non-binary
– Transgender and non-binary or not a sexual orientation
– Researchers are not certain what causes people to be transgender. (biological factors, possible brain differences.)
Describe the significance of sex for social animals
It establishes relationships within the group and helps to decrease conflict and aggression
Identify the categories of sexual orientation
Heterosexual
Homosexual
Asexual
Bisexual
Identify the factors scientist, believe contribute to determining sexual orientation
– More evidence for non-environmental influences versus environmental influences
– Genetics plays a role in determining sexual orientation. Less influence of jeans in women than men, some biological factors are correlated with a same-sex orientation
– Sexual orientation established as early as age 6. Highly unlikely to change once established.
Explain why psychologist and psychiatrist do not consider homosexuality to be a disorder
Homosexuality has not been considered a sexual disorder by clinical psychologist or psychiatrist since 1973
– Homosexual people who are comfortable with their sexual orientation or just as well adjusted as our heterosexual people
– No evidence to support benefit or justification of therapies to change sexual orientation
