Biological Approach to developing an identity
IntroductionDevelopmental psychologist → branch of psychology that studies how and why people change and develop
overtime
Helps us understand the progress of an individual’s thinking, the way they relate to others and their
perception of their surrounding and themselves
An integral component of developing an identity is developing gender identity.
Gender Identity→ person’s perception of having a particular gender, this may or may not correspond with
their biological sex (sex assigned at birth)
(Explain sex vs gender) Sex is usually categorized as female or male but there is variation in the biological
attributes that comprise sex and how those attributes are expressed.
Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys,
men, and gender diverse people.
Lots of different arguments, general consensus is divided
Arguments proposed by biologists postulates that gender is biologically determined- as a result of sex
hormones
Biological sex creates gendered behaviour
This essay will discuss the biological approach to developing a gender identity, making references to studies
conducted by Dr Money and Imperfato for support of the theory.
Dr Money study
His argument initially was that children are born gender- neutrally and it is the enivironment and their
upbringing that shapes their gender identity
So he argued that biological sex not determinant of gender. His study aimed to investigate whether children
were born gender neutrality.
Background- David and Bruce Reimer identical twins, both boys, taken for circumcision at 7 months to
correct medical problem
Accident during bruce surgery- penis burned off→ completely unrecognisable
Remeir parents watching show about gender neutrality with Dr Money explaining and talking about
transgender issues
He said all children gender neutral until 2 year old
They called Dr Money because accident happened when bruce was 1 year old and dr money suggested that
they raise him as a girl and call her Brenda
Parent took his advice and did raise him like a girl and so dressed in girl clothes, girl toys etc, even got basic
genital surgery at 2
At 12 yo, given oestrogen for puberty
Dr Money tracked them their whole lives, ie interview with both twins
Results – dr money reported Brenda adapted to role of girl
However, later in life, Brenda found to be boy → David
Dr Money Eval
Strengths•
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High Ecological Validity
Observation and Interview for in depth finding however findings could be biased (refer to
weaknesses)
Weakness
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Dr Money potential ulterior motive- want to support his theory
Not longitudinal enough because later gender changed
Not generalisble because case study
Ethic considerations- Suicide etc
Imperfato- McGinley Study
Another study that supported biological theory
Investigated unique family from Dominican republic Batista Boys (13 families selected with 24 affected
men)
Because of a gene mutation (steroid 5a), some children born with female genetilia which later in life
develops in male genitilia →raised as girls in childhood but masculine during adulthood and demonstrate
heterosexual behaviour
The children were brought up as girls but, at puberty, their breasts were said to have failed to develop and
their clitorises enlarged greatly to resemble small penises. Their voices deepened, facial hair developed and
their bodies became muscular like a man's.
Findings: the interesting thing that the researchers found was that, in each case, the boys abandoned their
female gender identity with very few problems of adjustment and quickly adapted to their new roles as boys
and men
Plasma levels measured- less dihyrotestoterone than average man but still act like man
Gender is fluid but biological deffo play roles
Imperfato- McGinley Eval
Strengths- take blood plasma so unbiased, objective highly reliable
Weakeness- case study
No explanation for why it happens
Evaluation of Biology Approach to developing identity
is based on scientific expkanations; less objective
Evidence comes from lab experiments and animal studies – these are carefully controlled with
operationalized variables allowing cause and effect conclusions to be made.
Biological explanations are valid as different research methods are used with come up with similar findings
Weakness
Reductionist on its own
Does not provide explanation for why
Gender identity depend on cognition and feelings, both of which are not explored