On whiteboards

Explain the role of genes in Sex and gender development using a diagram

and pictures

Sex

Chromosomes and Sex development

If the female’s egg is to develop into a female, the father’s sperm will contribute an X chromosome (XX)

If the egg is to develop into a male the father’s sperm will contribute a Y chromosome (XY). The other X chromosome is from the ovum (egg) from the mother.

GO! Nads

Up until 6 weeks all foetuses contain identical gonads (sex glands).

These gonads have the potential to develop into ovaries or testes.

There are TWO parts to the undifferentiated gonads.

How do genes link to gender?

HORMONES

Androgens

• Males hormones- if these are present then the Wolffian system develops male reproductive ducts which produce testosterone

• If androgens are not present, the Mullerian system develops and the Wolffian system shrivels. No release of hormones from the ovaries is needed for the female sex organs and reproductive system to develop.

So how does this link to Gender?

Pre-natally it is thought that these hormones influence the brain. Research suggests that they make the sexually dimorphic nucleus twice as large in males compared to females. Other research suggests that testosterone slows down the development of some parts of the brain while speeding up others – such as the right hemisphere. This may explain why men are better at spatial tasks and women better at verbal ones, since the key language area is in the left side of the brain but the right hemisphere is concerned with spatial ability.

EvidenceImagine you are investigating the role of nature v nurture in gender.

Before we start to look at evidence…… What difficulties do you think psychologists face

when studying the role of genes and hormones in gender?

Discuss in pairs and write answer down on a mini-whiteboard.

Research activity

• In groups

• Look at your research study

You will present the research back grounding the theory to sex and gender and providing any

evaluation points for the group

Evaluation

Biological Determinism

ReductionismSocially Sensitive and Gender

stereotypes

Use of Animal Research

Selectivity in Research reporting

Nature Vs Nurture

StarterOn the whiteboards

1.Explain one piece of research supporting the link between genes and hormones

2. Explain the difference in the sexually dimorphic nucleus In males and females

IDA

Which issues, debates and approaches could we use to evaluate this explanation? List them on

whiteboards.

The Point:The explanation falls on the _____________ side of the __________ ____________ debateExplain the Point:This is because the explanation is presuming that gender is caused entirely by …

So What?The problem is that it is difficult to establish the exact role that genes and hormones play in gender. This is because…

Therefore, the evidence tends to be based on…

This is problematic because….

Let’s focus on nature nurture

The Point:The explanation falls on the nature side of the nature nurture debateExplain the Point:This is because the explanation is presuming that gender is caused entirely by … biological factors, in this case the specific role of genes and hormones and how they shape gender, rather than looking at environmental or psychological factorsSo What?The problem is that it is difficult to establish the exact role that genes and hormones play in gender. This is because… it is not possible to separate nature from nurture when investigating the role of genes and hormones.Therefore, the evidence tends to be based on case studies, or animal studies. This is problematic because….

Let’s focus on nature nurture

Wider evaluation

• Other issues and debates e.g. reductionism

• Comparison with other approaches –Biosocial

Practical implications?

The biosocial approach

Answer the following questions for each child:1. Formation of the 23rd pair of chromosomes:2. What Hormones are produced at puberty: 3. Reproductive organs: 4. Describe how their bedroom may be decorated:5. What kind of toys are likely to be bought for them?6. What words are likely to be used to describe them?7. What games might their parents play with them?

Molly Jarad

The biosocial approach1. This approach focuses on the interaction between

biological and social factors in explaining gender2. Biology is the foundation on which social factors are

built3. The inborn traits and characteristics of a newborn

baby (including their sex) affect the way that carers behave towards them

4. Therefore carers behave in different ways depending on whether the baby is male or female

5. The child’s gender identity is therefore consistent with the way that the child has been raised, and how they are raised is usually subtly different for boys and girls

Smith and Lloyd (1978 • Conducted a piece of research that showed adults treating

babies according to the gender the adults perceived them to have. Using a sample of 6 month old infants, the researchers dressed and named some of them as the opposite sex. They then asked adults unknown to the babies to play with them

• They found the adults used the cues associated with name and clothing to prompt their interaction and toy choice. Babies perceived as boys were more likely to be given a squeaky hammer to play with, whereas those perceived as girls were given dolls.

Starter

How well would the Bio-social approach explain Billy Elliot’s behaviour?

(a boy who took up Ballet Dancing in a culture where this was considered a typically female

behaviour)

Starter 2

On the wall whiteboards

• Choose a study you could use for the Biosocial approach to Gender

• Write 6 words you would use in a description/grounding of this study

Friedman (2007)• Explored mothers reading stories featuring gender stereotypes

with their children

• The results showed that Mothers' gender attitudes predicted gender stereotyping in younger children (3-5 years) but not older children (6-7 years).

Ground this research on the whiteboards to the biosocial approach

Add to the packs if needed

Today

• Evaluation of the Biosocial approach

• Further Scaffolding of IDA (Determinism)

Relevant Evaluation points for biosocial- Good or bad?

• The theory ___ Generalisable because……

• Research in to the biosocial approach could be considered Socially sensitive because…..

• The theory ___ Reductionist/ holistic because..

• The theory supports _____ of Nature vs nurture……

Determinism…..

Reduces individual responsibility over gender. This is a…..

Suggests gender is predictable. This is a….

Suggests individuals are passive in their gender identity and do not respond actively to internal and external influences. This…..

Example of a relevant IDAThe Point:The theory _____ determinist.

Explain the Point:This is because…..

So What?This could be considered a ________ of the approach as…

This could lead to…..

However it is not considering…..

Wider Evaluation

1. Advantages

2. Limitations/problems

Wider evaluationKey advantages• Other theories are supported by this explanation… Culture, Social

learning• Highlights the role of Nurture• Practical applications- child rearing, education

Problems with biosocial explanation:• Other approaches not in consideration- Cognitive/ Psychological

factors• Research is socially sensitive• Difficult to establish cause and effect• More evidence for biological influences than social

Model Essay

• Highlight good elaboration in the essay

• Use the Markscheme to assess the essay

Essay plan

READING WEEK HOMEWORK

1. CREATE FLASH CARDS FOR AGGRESSION AND RESEARCH METHODS TOPICS

2. PLAN THE FOLLOWING ESSAY FOR A TIMED ESSAY ON YOUR FIRST LESSON (23RD NOVEMBER)

* DISCUSS THE BIOSOCIAL APPROACH TO GENDER DEVELOPMENT. (8 +16 MARKS)

3. READ THE EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF GENDER