Unit 2: Nature v. nurture 3.3.16

Entry Task Handout 3-10 Put an ‘X’ in the column to indicate if that trait is more often linked to males, females, or both.

Part 6: Gender

Gender Development In most ways, male & female are alike Faced similar adaptive challenges 45/46 chromosomes are unisex Physical differences are obvious Psychological differences are less obvious Women have 70% more body fat, 40% less muscle, & are 5 in shorter Women enter puberty 2 years earlier & live 5 years longer Women are more vulnerable to depression, men to antisocial personality disorder

Gender & Aggression aggression: physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone Aggression gender gap: males are more physically aggressive than females across all ages & cultures Male to female murder rate is 9 to 1 Hunting, fighting, warring primarily men’s activities

Gender & Social Power In most societies, men are more dominant, forceful, & independent, and are perceived as such Leadership roles tend to go to males Men are more directive, women more democratic Gender differences in power lessen with age In 2005, men = 84% of gov. roles

Gender Differences & Connectedness Women form more connections (friendships) with people Men emphasize freedom & self-reliance True across all ages Boys play in large groups, with lots of activity and little discussion Girls play one-on-one or in small groups, less competitive & more intimate Oliver Eltinger/ Zefa/ Corbis Dex Image/ Getty Images

Gender Differences & Connectedness Women emphasize caring for others, especially the very old and very young Bonds between women are stronger & more supportive Male answer-syndrome: men are more likely to make up an answer or guess than to admit they don’t know

Nature of Gender Main area we see differences in the genders is biology Sex chromosomes: biological difference between genders X chromosome: found in both men & women Y chromosome: found only in men

Nature of Gender Testosterone: most important male sex hormone; found in both males & females In the mother’s womb, the male fetus is exposed to more testosterone, which leads to the development of male genitalia

Nature of Gender When female embryos are exposed to excess testosterone, genitals appear more masculine, they dress & play more “boyishly”, but they identify as girls Look & act different, so environment plays a role, as people may treat them different

Nature of Gender Early research indicates sex chromosomes & hormones affect the wiring of the brain Bottom Line: in combination with environment, sex-related genes & physiology result in behavioral & cognitive differences between the genders Frontal lobe, involved with verbal fluency, thicker in women Parietal cortex, key area for space perception, thicker in men Other differences reported in the hippocampus, amygdala, & amount of gray matter

Nurture of Gender Culture shapes our gender roles: expectations of how men and women are supposed to behave Diversity of gender roles across cultures & time indicates that culture has a big influence Having roles can smooth social relations But if they are broken, it can cause anxiety

Nurture of Gender Gender Identity: how a person views him/herself in terms of gender Gender typing: acquisition of a traditional masculine/feminine role

Gender Roles: Theories Social Learning Theory: we learn gender behavior like other behaviors – observation, imitation, reward & punishment We are told what gender we are, we observe others of the same gender, we imitate their actions We are rewarded when we act like our gender role, and are punished when we don’t Done not only by parents, but peers as well -children will categorize themselves & others into boys and girls even when parents discourage typical gender-typing

Gender Roles: Theories Gender Schema Theory: children learn the concepts of what it means to be male & female & that is how you see the world from then on Through language, dress, toys, songs, kids develop gender schemas, compare themselves with the concept, and adjust their behavior

Group Activity Two groups Read each statement Put a ‘Y’ in Column A if you heard something like this as a child, or an ‘N’ in Column A if no one ever said that to you Put a ‘Y’ in Column B if you think you might say that to your own child or an ‘N’ in Column B if you don’t think you’ll ever say that

Group Activity When all group members are finished, discuss the questions given to the discussion leader. Leaders: Make sure all members of the group contribute to the conversation.

Reflections: Nature & Nurture