What is a chromosome?
It’s found in the nucleus of living cells carrying information in the form of genes; the 23rd pair of chromosomes determines biological sex.
What is a hormone?
A chemical substance circulated in the blood that controls and regulates the activity of certain cells or organs.
What is testosterone?
A hormone from the androgen group that is produced mainly in the male testes. It is associated with aggressiveness.
What is oestrogen?
The primary female hormone, playing an important role in the menstrual cycle and reproductive system
What is oxytocin?
A hormone which causes contraction of the uterus during labour and stimulates lactation.
What is the role of chromosomes?
Half the sperm carry an X chromosome and half a Y. The Y chromosome carries a gene called the ‘SRY’, this gene cause tests to develop in an XY embryo. These produce androgens; male sex hormones hence causing the embryo to become a male.
What is the role of hormones?
Most gender development actually comes about through the influence of hormones. Males and females produce many of the same hormones but in different concentrations.
What is the evaluation for the role of chromosomes?
David Reimer
Evaluation point role of chromosomes: David Reimer
Free will vs determinism
Reimer was chromosomally male and had testosterone, however the role of chromosomes and hormones prevailed in that it overrode the social factors.
What is the evaluation for the role of hormones?
James Dabbs, Van Goozen, Tricker, Slabbekoorn
Evaluation point role of hormones: James Dabbs
James Dabbs found that in a prison population, that offenders with the highest levels of testosterone were more likely to have committed violent or sexually motivated crimes.
Evaluation point role of hormones: Van Goozen
She studied transgendered individuals who were being injected with hormones of the opposite sex. Transgender women showed decreases in aggression and visuo-spatial awareness whilst men showed the opposite.
This suggests that sex hormones do exert some influence on gender related behaviour.
However small sample.
Evaluation point role of hormones: Tricker
Tricker gave 43 males an injection of testosterone and a placebo. There was no significance difference found in aggression after 10 weeks.
Evaluation point role of hormones: Slabbekoorn
Slabbekoorn demonstrated that sex hormones had no consistent effect on gender-related behaviour.
