1. Unit 2: Nature v. nurture
3.3.16

2. 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.

3. Part 6:
Gender

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. Reflections: Nature & Nurture