Slide 1 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT 12 A Topical Approach to John W. Santrock Gender and Sexuality

Slide 2 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Gender and Sexuality Biological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on GenderBiological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on Gender Gender Comparisons and Classification Gender Development through the Life Span Exploring Sexuality Sexuality through the Life Span

Slide 3 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Gender and Sex Gender — social dimension of being female or male –Gender role: set of expectations prescribing how females and males should act, feel, and think –Gender typing: process by which children acquire thoughts, behaviors, and feelings culturally appropriate for their gender Sex — designates the biological aspects of being female or male Biological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on Gender

Slide 4 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Biological Influences Chromosomes — 23rd pair with X and Y Hormones –Estrogens Estradiol influences development of female physical sex characteristics and helps regulate menstrual cycle –Androgens Testosterone promotes development of male genitals and secondary sex characteristics Biological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on Gender

Slide 5 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Biological Influences Examples of conditions from unusual levels of sex hormones early in development –Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) –Androgen-insensitive males –Pelvic field defect –Failed sex reassignment Biological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on Gender

Slide 6 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Evolutionary Psychology View of Gender Differing roles in reproduction placed different pressures on males and females Key gender differences in sexual attitudes and sexual behaviors –Males — competition, violence, risk-taking –Females — parenting effort, selection of successful mate Biological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on Gender

Slide 7 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Social Influences Differences due to social experiences –Social role theory: gender differences result from contrasting roles of men and women –Psychoanalytic theory of gender: claims child identifies with same-sex parent by age 5 or 6 Many disagree, claiming gender learned much earlier (even in absence of same-sex parent) Biological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on Gender

Slide 8 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Social Influences Differences due to social experiences –Social cognitive theory of gender — gender development results from observation and imitation, use of rewards and punishments for gender-appropriate behaviors Biological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on Gender

Slide 9 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Cognitive Influences Cognitive development theory of gender –Children’s gender typing occurs after they think of themselves as boys and girls; gender constancy must be achieved first –Once consistently conceived as male or female, children prefer activities, objects, and attitudes consistent with this label Biological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on Gender

Slide 10 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Cognitive Influences Gender schema theory –Gender typing emerges gradually in gender schemas of what is culturally gender-appropriate and inappropriate –Gender-typed behavior can occur before children develop gender constancy –Gender schemas fuel gender typing Biological, Social, and Cognitive Influences on Gender

Slide 11 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Gender Stereotyping Broad categories that reflect our impressions and beliefs about females and males –Traditional masculinity and femininity Males instrumental Females expressive –Stereotyping varies with culture –Stereotyping of occupations Gender Comparisons and Classification

Slide 12 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Young Children’s Judgments about Competency in Stereotyped Occupations Fig Gender Comparisons and Classification

Slide 13 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Gender Similarities and Differences Physical differences –Females have longer life expectancy –Females less likely to develop mental or physical disorders –Males have higher levels of stress hormones causing faster clotting and higher blood pressure Gender Comparisons and Classification

Slide 14 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Gender Similarities and Differences Physical differences –Female brains are smaller, have more folds –Part of hypothalamus involved in sexual behavior is larger in men –Area of parietal lobe functioning in visuospatial skills is larger in males –Areas of brain involved in emotional expression show more activity in females Gender Comparisons and Classification

Slide 15 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Cognitive Similarities and Differences Some claim males better at math and visuospatial skills and females better at verbal skills Others claim differences exaggerated National standardized tests –Boys slightly better at math and science –Girls better at reading and writing –Overall, girls superior students to boys Gender Comparisons and Classification

Slide 16 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Visuospatial Skills of Males and Females Gender Comparisons and Classification Fig. 12.4

Slide 17 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Socioemotional Similarities and Differences Aggression –Males more physically aggressive in all cultures –Females more verbally aggressive; use relational aggression more than men Self-Regulation –Males show less self-regulation, can lead to behavioral problems Controversies over psychological differences Gender Comparisons and Classification

Slide 18 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Socioemotional Similarities and Differences Gender in context –Gender varies across contexts –Males more likely to help in perceived danger –Females more likely to volunteer to help with child –Girls show more care-giving behaviors than boys –Males more likely to show anger towards strangers and turn anger into aggression –Cultural backgrounds influence socialization Gender Comparisons and Classification

Slide 19 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Masculinity, Femininity, and Androgyny Androgyny — presence of masculine and feminine characteristics in same individual –Bem Sex-Role Inventory: Instrumental, expressive traits Context influencing gender role is adaptive –Gender-role transcendence — people should be evaluated as persons, not in terms of femininity, masculinity, or androgyny Gender Comparisons and Classification

Slide 20 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Bem’s Gender-Role Classification Gender Comparisons and Classification Fig. 12.5

Slide 21 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Gender Development in Childhood Children form many ideas about what the sexes are like from about 1½ to 3 years of age Boys receive earlier and more intense gender socialization Children show clear preference for same-sex peers Gender roles becoming more flexible Gender Development through the Life-Span

Slide 22 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Gender Development in Adolescence Transition point; changes in puberty Gender-intensification hypothesis –Psychological and behavioral differences between boys and girls become greater during early adolescence –Increased socialization pressures to conform to traditional gender roles –Mixed messages and special problems Gender Development through the Life-Span