Sex and Gender - the role of chromosomes

Question 1

Role of testosterone

Answer 1

• Body hair grows, voice breaks, muscle growth
• associated with aggression
• present in smaller amounts in females

Question 2

Evolutionary role of testosterone

Answer 2

• helps males compete for females
• more likely to take on the hunter role

Question 3

Role of oestrogen

Answer 3

• breasts grow, wide hips develop
• burst of hormonal activity causes secondary sexual characteristics to develop
• heightens emotions and irritability during menstrual cycle

Question 4

Role of oxytocin

Answer 4

• females produce oxytocin in larger amounts than males
• stimulates lactation
• reduces stress hormone cortisol and facilitates bonding
• released in massive quantities during and after childbirth
• produced in equal amounts between men and women during amorous activities

Question 5

Strength - evidence for testosterone

Answer 5

P: support for the role of hormones in gender development
E: link between testosterone and sexual behaviour confirmed by Wang
E: 227 men underwent testosterone therapy - improved sexual function, libido and mood
L: RWA - helping hypogonadal men

Question 6

Counterpoint - evidence against the effects of testosterone

Answer 6

• O’Connor - double blind, placebo study
• increased testosterone levels in healthy young men
• no significant changes in interactional or non interactional components of sexual behaviour
• no change in aggression or anger levels

Question 7

Weakness - reductionist

Answer 7

P: biological explanations are reductionist
E: accounts reducing gender to chromosomes and hormones could be ignoring alternative explanations
E: the cognitive approach would highlight the importance of childhood experience
L: suggests gender is more complex than just biological influence alone

Question 8

Weakness - pathologising gender

Answer 8

P: pathologises gender
E: PMS can stereotype women as emotional and overdramatic
E: encourages damaging stereotypes of women being irrational, which influences how they are treated in society
L: socially sensitive
C: however there are some benefits - women can access treatments to try and control mood swings + physical symptoms