Social Explanations Of Gender Identity Disorder

Question 1

Describe the psychoanalytic theory of GID.

Answer 1

Paternal relationships are key to gender development. gender identity is said to occur through successful resolution of Oedipus / electors complex. Unsuccessful leads to development of GID.

Question 2

Explain the psychoanalytic theory Of GID for males.

Answer 2

Males may have extreme separation anxiety prior to gender identity establishment. To relieve it the boy fantasises fusing with the mother. As a consequence the boy takes on a female identity.

Question 3

Explain the psychoanalytic theory Of GID for females.

Answer 3

This is due to paternal rejection prior to development of gender identity. They unconsciously think that if they identify with males and become a male this might lead to acceptance by their father. Another reason may be the mother lacked a cohesive self making it hard for the child to identify.

Question 4

Evaluate the psychoanalytic theory of GID.

Answer 4

S: 64% of boys diagnosed with GID also diagnosed w separation anxiety. 38% of boys had symptoms but not diagnosed w GID had separation anxiety disorder.
C: can’t infer causal relationship w separation anxiety and GID. Rekers suggested that gender disturbances in boys is more likely to be because of absence of a father not mother.
I: lacks falsifiability, shows gender bias.

Question 5

Explain gender schema theory forming GID.

Answer 5

Liben and bigler suggested two pathways of gender development. One was the development of an in group matching gender to biological sex. The second suggests a child’s gender attitudes are influenced by his/her activity. E.g. A boy playing with dolls leads him to believing dolls are appropriate for boys and girls. This leads to development of a non sex typed schema which leads to flexible attitudes to gender, but in some this may lead to GID.

Question 6

Evaluate gender schema theory as a way of explaining GID.

Answer 6

C: more descriptive than explanatory. Doesn’t explain why some children become interested in activities and toys inconsistent with their biological sex, or how this leads to a non-sex type schema. Ignores biological factors and may have oversimplified the disorder. Homosexual transsexuals want to change their sex because they’re attracted to the same gender and non homosexual transsexuals want to change their sex because they’re attracted to the idea of themselves as the opposite gender. Some people experience it in adolescence whereas some experience it in adulthood. Monocausal explanations do not go far enough in explaining complex disorder.