PSYC 367/WmSt 366:  Gender Issues in Psychology

Spring 2004            Virginia Norris, Ph.D.

All dates are subject to change.  Announcements in class supersede internet material.
CHAPTER 5

BIOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT:
THE PROCESS OF BECOMING FEMALE OR MALE
Biological Theories
Sociobiology
Sex Differences
BIOLOGICAL THEORIES
  • Genetic
    • Rationale
    • Potential Problems
      • Too many X's
      • Too many Y's
      • No second chromosome
  • Hormones
    • Potential Problems
      • No dihydrotestorone produced in genetically male fetus
      • Genetically female fetus exposed to androgens
      • Progestin-induced hermaphroditism
      • Andrenogenital syndrome
  • SEX ORGANS
    • Development
    • Problems
      • Surgical Accidents
      • Hermaphrodites
      • Pseudo-Hermaphrodites
  • IMPLICATIONS
    • Plasticity
    • Bipotential
    • Interaction
SOCIOBIOLOGY
  • Reproductive Behavior
    • Males will be promiscuous
    • Females will be virtuous
  • Resulting Social Roles
    • Females will be nurturing.
    • Males will be dominant.
      • Male Dominance Over Females
      • Competitiveness Between Males
      • Male Violence
      • Willingness of Males to Fight Wars
  • Rebuttal
    • Evidence?
    • Changes in reproductive needs?
    • Medical technology
SEX DIFFERENCES
  • Physical Differences
  • Males
  • Females
    • Why the differences in morbidity and mortality
    • May be due to the X chromosomes.
    • Inactivation of the second X chromosome in females
  • Cognitive Differences
  • Social and Affective Differences