psychodynamic

Question 1

psychoanalytic theory of gender development

Answer 1

freud - children pass through psychosexual stages of development

first 2 stages = child bisexual , bc gender identity dont exist yet , no diff between boys and girls

phallic stage = gender identity develops through opedipus complex for boys and electra complex in girls

Question 2

oedipus complex

Answer 2

• in phallic stage , boy develops feelings towards mother and murderous hatred towards father , sees him as rival
• but cant do anything about it bc they know that father is more powerful
• fears that if father finds out abt feelings, will remove boys penis , known as castration anxiety

male identification
- to resolve conflict , boy stops desiring mother and copies father , called dienfitication
-takes on fathers behaviours/attitudes
- by doing this , develops male gender identity , = internalisation

not resolve feelings =
- leads to gender confusion / homosexuality in later life

Question 3

electra complex

Answer 3

• young girls early sexual desires
• at first attracted to mother , but realises she doesn’t have penis , becomes attracted to father , happens during phallic stage
• sees herself in competition w mother , feels resentment , also bc believes that mother took away her penis ,
  -desire for penis = symbol of power , known as penis envy
• overtime , accepts that she’ll never have a penis , instead converts penis envy into desire for baby

resolve
gives up desire for dad bc fears that shell lose love from mother , then copies mothers behaviour = idenftiivation ,
- then leads her to internalise female gender identity ,= internalisation

Question 4

ao3, little Hans

Answer 4

p- supported theory with little Hans , developed a fear of horses due to repressing his desire for his mother
e- levin , reported on 32 patients w bpd , 22 = unsolved electra complex/penis envy
e- but case studies = subjectively interpreted , and selectively reported = to fit researchers expectations
l- poor evidence and theories are unfalsiabile

Question 5

ao3 , lesbians

Answer 5

p- lacks predictive validity
e- predicts children in 1 parent house or same sex parents = difficulty acquiring gender identity, not supported by evidence
e- patterson = found children of lesbian parents = develop gender identities in similar way of children w hetrosexual parents and have normal social relationships
l- means gender development doesn’t depend on oedipus or electra complex

Question 6

ao3 , limitaton , awareness

Answer 6

p- complexes depend on children having awareness of genitals
e- but children aged 3-5 dont know what opposite gender genitals look like
e- research shows link between exposure to parental sexual activity at young age and teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections
l- suggests association between early childhood experiences = later sexual beahviour , but not casual effect on gender development