Psychodynamic Explanations

Question 1

How does Freud describe development of gender?

Answer 1

Freud argued gender identity is another conflict which must be resolved → occurs at age 5
• before age 3, gender identity is flexible + there is no clear difference between girls + boys
- they are called bisexual
→ their understanding of gender begins to change during phallic stage

Question 2

Describe phallic stage in terms of gender development

Answer 2

Phallic stage (3-5)
- focal point of pleasure = genitals
- also begin to pay attention to other peoples genitals
→ begin understanding differences between m/f
-start of children developing gender identity

Question 3

Outline oedipus complex in gender development

Answer 3

Oedipus complex → conflict between lust for mother + fear for father
- all young boys experience this complex
~ develop passionare desire for mother + want to possess her; see father as rival so jealous + wish father dead
~ afraid father will discover desire for mother + punish them by castration → castration anxiety
~recognise father is more powerful than them
~ believe father castrated mother
→ conflict is resolved when boy gives up his love for his mother + identifies with his father, internalising his values

Question 4

Outline electra complex in gender development

Answer 4

Electra complex → conflict between fear of losing mothers love + lust for father
~experienced by young giris
~ develop a passionate desire for father
~ resent mother as realise they have been castrated + blame their mother for this
~ experience penis envy → jealous they do not have a penis like their father/brother
~ resolved by realising they cannot have a penis + substitute this desire to the desire to have a baby

Question 5

Give limitations of Freud’s theory on gender development

Answer 5

Lacks scientific rigour —> impossible to test unconscious ideas of repressed desire for parents + castration anxiety/penis envy, making the theory unfalsifiable
- case studies are unique + based on Freud’s own interpretation
- means the theory appears pseudoscientific as there is no way to measure these empirically
Androcentric —> based on views of women being inferior to men so lacks temporal validity; Horney argued concepts like penis envy are not innate and are based on cultural norms of the time which were androcentric for Freud
Contradictory research —> theory suggests children raised in gay or single parent household would not develop stable gender identities but research has shown the opposite; suggesting gender development may not involve resentment to same sex parent and desire for opposite sex