Psych 125 Human Development Christopher Gade Office 1031G Office hours Tu 12130 and by apt Email gadecjgmailcom Class T 130420 Room 2210 Sorting Task In a group of 2 to 3 categorize the terms below as being more likely linked to males or females ID: 767993
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Psych 125Human DevelopmentChristopher GadeOffice: 1031-GOffice hours: Tu 12-1:30 and by apt.Email: gadecj@gmail.comClass: T 1:30-4:20 Room 2210
Sorting TaskIn a group of 2 to 3, categorize the terms below as being more likely linked to males or females Sweet Trucks Cosmetologist Golf Caring Rough Emotional Suit Strong Babysitter Electrician Wrestling Dolls Firefighter Designer
What This Relates To & Today’s TopicGender – the characterization of people as females or malesGender identity – an internal sense of one’s genderGender role – cognitive, behavioral, and emotional expectations placed on members of a genderGender typing – a set of roles or concepts applied to a specific genderWhen studying gender and development, psychologists are interested in when these gender related concepts developNote: psychologists often don’t examine if these gender concepts are appropriate or necessary, instead they focus on how, when, and why they develop
Looking at The Development of Gender RecognitionBy the age of 2, and possibly even before, children display recognition of their gender identity and the ability to differentiate between gender roes and typing... But how?
Biological Influences of GenderHormones – chemicals released by the body in order to influence physiology and behaviorEstrogens – produced in greater concentration by femalesMenstrual cycles and female sex characteristicsAndrogens – produced in greater concentrations by malesProduced in the testes Masculine secondary sex characteristics and male genitaliaNumerous studies have linked the presence of hormones to gender-linked identities, roles, and typingHyde’s testosterone and aggressive behavior findingsLinks between hormone increases and gender-specific behaviors during pubertyRare birth defect casesAndrogen-insensitive males Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
Social Influences on GenderParental treatment differencesCultural normative differencesSame-sex socializationSchema development findingsSchemas – cognitive concepts that organize and direct thought and behavior
Where We See DifferencesCurrent studies have shown differences in:Visuospatial & science skillsVerbal skillsEmotional skills (empathy)Aggressive tendenciesHelping focusMate selection and jealousyHOWEVER, most of these differences are very small, and often, most of them can/could be explained through social learningScholastic ability over time example
Please list, in order of importance, the qualities that you look for in someone that you would want to dateIntelligenceAttractivenessCreativityHumorFriendlinessSpontaneityCare GivingHonestyWealthOrderlinessAdventurousnessStyle
The Choice for MenPerson A is extraordinarily good looking. They work at a small restaurant and have no ambition to do anything more.Person B is average looking. They patented an invention and sold it for a fortune. They were recently accepted to a prestigious medical school, and is said to have an outstanding career ahead as a medical researcher.
The Choice for WomenPerson A is extraordinarily good looking. They work at a small restaurant and have no ambition to do anything more.Person B is average looking. They patented an invention and sold it for a fortune. They were recently accepted to a prestigious medical school, and is said to have an outstanding career ahead as a medical researcher.
Who did you choose?A or B
Gender Development Across the LifespanChildhoodGender separation begins at a young ageMales tend to be punished more for gender deviant behavior (at least in our culture)AdolescenceGender intensification hypothesis – gender roles and gender-specific behaviors become a greater source of focus during pubertyAdulthoodResearch indicates a shift toward more female-related behaviors and activity in males during late adulthoodFemales often do not shift their levels in these studies
A Key Component of Gender: SexEven though we often link gender to sex, gender role differences tend to be much more prominent than sexual differencesSexual activity differencesSexual frequencyMasturbationHomosexual activities differences (Michael, 1994) (within the past year)2.7% of males1.3% of femalesNote: culture seems to play a much more prominent role in sexual activity and focus than gender Sexual scripts
How Do We Develop Sexually?: Freud’s ViewSigmund Freud was of the first psychologists to attempt to examine and explain sexual developmentLibido (psychosexual energy) was the impetus behind our sexual activity and desiresThis libido existed throughout life, in different forms throughout development Anal Pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder stinginess (18-36 months) elimination; coping with demands for control strict orderliness Freud’s Psychosexual Stages Stage Focus Fixation Oral Pleasure centers on the mouth-- smoking, (0-18 months) sucking, biting, chewing overeating Phallic Pleasure zone is the genitals; coping with penis envy (3-6 years) incestuous sexual feelings castration fear Latency Dormant sexual feelings (6 to puberty) Genital Maturation of sexual interests (puberty on)
A More Scientific and Current Set of FindingsChildhoodSex play and exploration of sex related differences appear to be a focus in most childrenAdolescenceAn increase in sexual focuses thoughts often occursSexual exploration/experimentation also are commonSexual activity levels are highly related to social and cultural normsHomosexual behavior and interests sometimes emerge at this time, but some individuals display heterosexual interests at this age and develop homosexual interests later (and vice versa)Males tend to be more focused on sex at this age, and they tend to derive more pleasure from sexual encounters
A Note on Sexual Activity in the USDespite there being dramatic differences in sexual activity effects/causes across cultures, in the US, individuals who engage in early sexual activity are often linked to a number of other factorsLower SESLess parental/peer supportLower academic performanceHigher rates of drug use and destructive behaviors
Sex in AdulthoodIn early adulthood, sexual activity does increase, but not as much as we often perceiveSexual partnersSexual frequencyNote: this is true for most, but not all peopleIn middle adulthoodFemales – menopauseMales – decreased sexual drive and functionalityIn late adulthoodSexual activity declines for everyone Recent contradictory findings with STD’s and the elderly
A Reexamination of Sex and Gender Through A Different Lenshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWGRi99cVHohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHp3sHkE1bchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoYo9Syc8g4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaPsiGutGPQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEjgUt9u39Uhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xq8fFtAzR8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmKAnpF0zS4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1o_hXcHWAIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LC5UTozpa4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb_sPmd6DnE