THE NATURE
NURTURE DEBATE
Todays main objectives.
• To understand the definitions and related concepts of “nature” and
“nurture” in relation to both GENDER DEVELOPMENT
• To be able to link back this knowledge to the Horizon – is your brain male or
female documentary that we have watched in preparation.
• To understand WHY we use and WHAT twin studies tell us about the nature
nurture debate in relation to gender and intelligence.
• Assignment criteria signposting 1.1, 1.2, 3.1,3.2
Definition
The nature/nurture debate for gender in
psychology considers the extent to which our
gender and intelligence is determined by:
Nature - genes and hormones or
Nurture - learning from the environment).
Research Methods for Nature/Nurture
TWIN STUDIES
• Take a look at this rather good explanation by Lord Robert Winston, relates
mostly to IQ which we will look at next week but allows you to see how its
done.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRKbZtpBcgI
• Unfortunately not all twin studies are good or ethical, watch and be
surprised.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gwnzW4jOMI
Lets Recap
• In preparation we have watched Horizon examining issues relating to
Gender Development.
• Can you recall some of the key things that were highlighted?
• What did you think about the studies? Are they reliable methods? Would you
make any changes?
• Ethics?
Terms
• Sex - refers to the biological aspect e.g. genitals)
• Gender – refers to the social aspects of males/females
• Gender role – society’s expectations of behaviour/attitude expected of
males and females
• Gender stereotypes – the belief that all males/females act in certain ways
• Gender identity – knowing that you are male/female
• Androgyny – having high amounts of both typically masculine and feminine
characteristics and behaviour
Sex and Gender
• Sex and gender have separate definitions although they are often used to
mean the same thing
Gender
• Babies are assigned with a gender at birth.
• It is the psychological and cultural ideas of what a male or female is that
truly define our gender
Sex
• Refers to the biological aspects of the individual , which can be determined
by a number of factors, including:
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Chromosomes: females have an XX chromosomes, while males have an XY
Reproductive organs: ovaries in females, testes in males
Hormones: oestrogen and progesterone in females, testosterone in males
Genital appearance
Chromosomes and genital appearance usually correspond, but not always
Goldwyn (1979)
• Case of hermaphrodites
• Aim: to illustrate the difference between sex and gender
• Method: case study of 18 year old Bantu boy called Mr Blackwell – he
developed breasts at puberty and had one active ovary and one active
testes
• Result: elected to have female parts removed leaving original gender
identity
• Conclusion: carried on life as a male – so the study shows that there is
difference between gender and identity
Evidence for Nature
• Van Goozen found evidence that gender behaviour is controlled by
hormones and nature. Male to female transsexuals were injected with the
female hormone oestrogen, they showed less aggression but an increase in
verbal fluency. This suggests that the hormone oestrogen makes females less
aggressive and better verbally than males.
• Can you identify a criticism of the Van Goozen study?
• How can this be used to criticize the conclusions drawn from the study?
Bem (1974)
• Defined androgyny as having high amounts of both masculine and feminine
characteristics
• Example, a person could be independent (traditionally a male characteristic)
yet also kind and caring (traditionally a feminine characteristic)
• She carried out a study to investigate this
Study
• Aim: to investigate masculine and feminine traits/characteristics
of an individual
• Method: Bem sex-role-inventory - a questionnaire made up of a
number of traits/characteristics. Participants have to rate how
each of the traits apply to themselves
• Results/conclusion: Individuals may possess both masculine and
feminine characteristics. Those that possess them both in high
measures are termed androgynous
Stereotypes
• Sex role stereotypes are overgeneralisations of the way that people view men
and women.
• They are determined by the society in which we live
Stereotypes
• Common stereotypes of the gender differences.
Male
Aggressive
Display leadership
Mechanical
Takes a stand
Competitive
Ambitious
Female
Tactful
Gentle
Emotional
Understanding
Easily hurt
Smith and Lloyd (1978)
• Aim: to investigate whether mothers will treat a baby in a stereotyped
way depending on whether it is thought to be a boy or a girl
• Method: An experiment:
IV – how baby dressed (pink or blue)
DV- how child treated
Same baby dressed sometimes in pink sometimes in blue, various mother
were then asked to play with the baby
Results
If a mother thought she was playing with a boy, she would play more roughly
and offer male stereotype toys. (e.g. cars). If she thought she was playing
with a girl, she would talk to her and be more gentle
Conclusion: Mothers treated babies in a stereotyped way, according to their
gender
SAME AS THE HORIZON STUDY!!!
Durkin
• Aim: to investigate if gender stereotyping is shown in TV advertising
• Method: Used content analysis of TV advertisement
• Results: Men outnumbered women 7:3 on adverts. Men were shown more
frequently in dominant roles (higher occupational status – e.g. doctors,
managers and judges, whereas women are portrayed as being in lower
occupations e.g. housewives, nurses and secretaries
• Conclusion: sex role stereotyping is shown in adverts
Homework – Research in detail.
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Durkin – adverts – stereotyping
Smith and Lloyd – Baby stereotyping
Bem – androgyny
Goldwyn – hermaphroditism – sex and gender
Money and Erhardt – girls with XX chromosomes but male genitals