1. Welcome to class four Conclude last week’s material. Bring the Jan. 25 printout. Biology and Environment. What Makes an Individual … Female or Male? You will not be tested on the Three Stages of External Genital Differentiation in the Human Fetus, the internal reproductive tract or the external genitalia. We will be viewing a video titled Is it a boy or a girl? Dr. Lips gives alternative theories for many of her points.. –In your reading of the chapter note this and see what she says about the research and/or alternative theories.

2. What Makes an Individual … Female or Male? In chapter 5, we ask:  What are the biological processes that result in the differentiation of humans into male and female?  To what extent do physical sex difference, such as hormonal concentrations, have implications for gendered behavior?  What happens when one or more of the biological processes of sexual differentiation is disrupted?

3. Chapter 5 Overview continued:  What can studies of mixed sex individuals tell us about the link between biology and gender role behavior?  What can studies of these individuals tell us about gender identity?  What do we know about the reasons for different sexual orientations?  Are within-sex variations in hormone levels linked to variations in behavior such as aggression? What Makes an Individual … Female or Male?

4. Dr. Lips gives alternative theories for many of her points. For example, in her discussion of aggression in this chapter, she gives the following theories and what the research says.

5. BehaviorHypothesisWhat the research says Rough-and- tumble play Elevated prenatal androgens influence the central nervous system to differentiate in such a way that the individual is more predisposed toward high- energy active play 1) CAH girls are more often described as tom boys, having more high energy expenditure, more interested in sports. 2) It is not clear whether this pattern persists into adulthood. AggressionElevated prenatal androgens influence the central nervous system to differentiate in such a way that the individual is more predisposed to learn and perform aggressive behavior Overview: Sex Hormones and Human Behavioral Differences in Rough-and-tumble Play, Aggression and Gender-related Activities Research on CAH girls has not provided compelling evidence for a link between prenatal androgens and aggressive behavior.

6. BehaviorHypothesisWhat the research says Aggression continued Elevated levels of circulation androgens make an individual more likely to engage in aggressive behavior 1) Correlations have been found between men’s levels of circulating testosterone and some measures of aggression. 2) However, it is not clear whether the hormone levels cause the aggression or the aggressive situation or behavior causes a change in hormone levels. Overview: Sex Hormones and Human Behavioral Differences in Rough-and-tumble Play, Aggression and Gender-related Activities

7. Biology and Environment The Process of Becoming Female or Male How many sexes? –Male –Female –Intersexed? … …

8. The influence of Sex Hormone levels “in utero” –Yes, in rats –Not so clear in humans - a matter of controversy “Humans behavior is…more subject to learning and the social environment and less governed by hormones than…(lower) animals” (Matlin, p. 147)

9. XYY –Inconsistencies in research Gender-Role Behaviour –AGS (Adrogenal Syndrome) –AIS (Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome) Gender Identity

10. –Video: Is it a boy or a girl? –Query Should children be forced to adopt one gender because it is socially acceptable? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

11. Gender Dysphoria An individual’s sense of belonging to a particular gender category Many people report that this dissatisfaction began at an early age and never diminished Since scientists do not know exactly what controls gender identity, they are not sure why some people do not form a comfortable gender identity that matches the category in which they are placed by society. Overview: Gender Identity and Gender Dysphoria WhatWhenWhy

12. Transsexualism An extreme form of gender dysphoria Individual feels he or she was born with the body of the wrong sex The origin of this conviction is still a mystery Sometimes these individuals seek sex- reassignment surgery Question: Does the need to change one’s body relate to the rigidity of gender role definitions?

13. Sexual Orientation The degree of erotic and affectional responsiveness to one’s own or the other sex Possibly predicted by early hormonal exposure childhood cross- sex-typed activities and choices Determinants of female sexual orientation appear to be more complex than determinants of male sexual orientation © 2004 Slide Design by H. Lips & W. Andrew

14. Test one next week in this room –Chapters 1-5 –Written answers, no multiple choice –Two hours –Bring ID