...Towner PSYC 340 07/29/13 The effects of Hormones and behavior on gender identity Gender development begins when a baby is conceived, which why most women want to know the sex of their child as soon as possible. Boys and girl are treated different from the day they are born, causing the environment- nurture to affect gender development. Although nurture has a major influence on gender development, biological factors-nature also play a major part in the effects of gender development. In this paper the discussion that will address is the interaction between hormones and behavior and how they affect gender identity, also how the argument of how nature and nurture is the main affect gender identity. Biological factors play a huge role in children’s growth development. For example, boys and girls develop with a significantly different sex organs, and they also become more different when the onset of puberty sets in. Puberty is when the chemical messenger called hormones start to help with the formation of appearance from the physical changes occurring inside the body of an adolescent. According to Oswalt & Dombeck (2013), some researchers introduced the thought of same sex hormones that make sex organs differentiation in the uterus, which later triggers puberty. Naturally, human bodies go through the stage of puberty, and hormones have a lot to do with the development of the individual body during the onset of puberty. Hormones are leading players in the body’s chemistry...
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...|Gender Identity | |Hormonal and Behavioral Interactions Affect Determination of Gender Identity | |To explain how hormones affect gender identity and sexual behavior or examine how the interaction between hormones and behavior can be | |somewhat complicated. It would be easier to explain if we could say that behavior is caused unequivocally by hormones in the body. What | |has been established though is that elevated levels of hormones increase the chance of certain behaviors, and certain behaviors increase | |the likelihood of change in hormones. What also has been established is that hormones carry messages and that they can affect facets of | |the body at different times (Kalat, 2001). When the body requires a certain process to be done or needs a certain protein made, the | |brain emits a signal to make a certain type of hormone. Those signals are sent through other kinds of hormones that are also in the body.| |Puberty is the time when hormones disperse and levels rise. The testosterone levels in males are usually higher than the estrogen levels | |and that’s when tissue and muscle growth give rise to masculinity. In females, the estrogen levels predominate resulting in femininity. | |At any rate, the lessened or heightened amount of either of these hormones in the...
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...sexual differentiation and gender identity. The paper will also determine which has the greater influence on gender identity: nature or nurture. Lastly, the paper will discuss the current arguments about sexual identity and how evidence from biopsychology may help resolve the argument. Biological Factors on Sexual Differentiation and Gender Identity Gender identity is being either male or female. Gender identity is the element that helps make up an individual's sense of self. Before a baby is born their gender is form to either a boy or girl. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human body and it is known that the ova and sperm cells contains part of that number (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2011). When a sperm cell fertilizes an ovum, the zygote ends up having the whole 23 pairs of chromosomes, one is from the father and one is from the mother (Pinel, 2009). When a sperm fertilizes an egg, the development of the zygote in the male or female will depend on whether the sperm is carrying an X or Y sex chromosome (Pinel, 2009). Female ova contain only an X sex chromosome and needs the sperm to provide a Y sex chromosome, which develops a male and if it X sex chromosome the zygote will develop a female. In the case of hormones males and females have different levels of hormones. Hormones that influence an individual’s behavior can produce either masculine or feminine bodies (Pinel, 2009). Estrogens androgens, and progestins are several hormones in the body. The most common...
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...Gender Identity Gender Identity Gender identity is a complex and multi-dimensional element of a person (Egan & Perry, 2001). Gender identity is the self – identification as male or female. Gender identity, however, is not the same as sexual orientation (Sue, Sue, & Sue, 2010). Both biological and environmental factors contribute to one’s gender identity. Many people have the assumption that there are male and female hormones that determine gender identity (Pinel, 2009). However, this is not the case. In this paper, I will discuss how hormones, as well as environment, affect one’s gender identity and behavior. Biological Factors and Sexual Differentiation The human body consists of many hormones. Among them are androgens, estrogens, and progestins. Androgens and estrogens are both the most common classes of gonadal hormones. A third class of gonadal hormones is progestins. The most common progestin is progesterone. Progesterone prepares the uterus and breasts for pregnancy in females; however it is unclear of its purpose in males (Pinel, 2009). Although it is widely assumed that androgens are “male” hormones and estrogens are “female” hormones. In actuality, men and women have the same hormones although at different levels. These hormones also do not perform the same functions in both sexes. Males and females are both exposed to high levels of estrogens during the fetal stage. However, males are exposed to high androgen levels during the same...
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...Gender Identity Paper Gender is determined at the time of conception. Gender Identity is defined as a personal conception of oneself as being male or female. Gender Identity issues can arise from several reasons and present in many different ways. Hormonal imbalance in the human body can cause an individual to question their true gender. The human body produces hormones which act as “chemical messengers” to try to regulate certain bodily functions like metabolism and growth. These hormones are produced in the endocrine system which includes the adrenal, pancreas, pineal, pituitary, and thyroid glands and manage things like puberty, growth, and physical changes. Hormones help the body maintain homeostasis or a state of balance within the body. When the body produces to much or to little of a hormone it can cause both physical and emotional problems. What are the interactions between hormones and do these interactions affect determination of gender identity? Hormones are responsible for sexual dimorphism (phenotypic sex differences) in the structure of the body and its organs. For example, hormones affect the internal sex organs, including genitals, and secondary sex characteristics that can operate to influence a person's behavior. Thus some research indicates that hormones are responsible for the gender makeup that acts as determinants of feminine and masculine traits. In addition, hormones affect behavior by interacting...
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...affects gender identity more, nature or nurture. One’s gender is decided at the time of conception. Gender identity is defined as a personal belief of what it means to be a boy or a girl (Ghosh, 2013). As children grow and develop they are exposed to ideas, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs that aid in the development of their sense of self (Witt, 1997). It is impossible for a child to grow to adulthood without experiencing some form of gender bias, such as boys should not wear pink and girls should not play sports. The gender stereotypes they experience at home is reinforced by additional ones they are exposed to in school and from friends (Witt, 1997). Most times children will develop a gender identity that matches his or her genitalia but sometimes this is not the case. So the question remains, what affects an individual’s gender identity more, nature or nurture? Gender Identity Gender identity is defined as a “complex system of beliefs about the subjective self in relation to masculinity and femininity” (Ault & Brzuzy, 2009, p. 187). Gender roles, maleness, and femaleness, have been argued to be a factor of environmental influences, the nurture aspect of child development, and nature, the biological aspect. “Gender identity presents itself in how people outwardly express masculinity and femininity in everyday life and how others respond to this expression” (Ault & Brzuzy, 2009, p. 187). Studying how hormones cause types of behavior provides...
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...Gender Identity Tammy Sledge PSY 340 August 15, 2011 Gavin Coriell Gender Identity Every individual’s body produces substances referred to as hormones which act as “chemical messengers” in an effort to regulate particular bodily functions such as metabolism and growth. These hormones are produced by the pancreas, thyroid, pituitary, pineal, and adrenal glands which are also referred to as the endocrine system. Hormones are additionally produced in the ovaries in women and the testes in men. The secretions of particular hormones assist the body in maintaining a state of balance or homeostasis. When one or more hormones within the body are produced in excess, or if there is a lack of a particular hormone, physical and/or emotional problems are likely to develop. The field of biopsychology has allowed researchers to formulate medications which can assist individuals who are experiencing imbalances in neurotransmitters/hormones, to function at “normal” levels. Illnesses and conditions such as depression, schizophrenia and insomnia are caused by these imbalances however; the fluctuations of these chemicals on a daily basis can also cause mood swings, behavioral changes and problems with cognition in individuals who do not suffer from these more serious conditions. Specific patterns of behavior are associated with hormone levels, for instance; men and women have certain levels of both estrogen and testosterone within their bodies. A higher level of testosterone in men creates...
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...Nature vs. Nurture in Gender Development The interest in the Interaction between hormones and behavior is not new there has long been a question of whether an individual is born with a specific identity or whether they are nurtured or pushed into a certain role, and how well they can adapt to and assimilate into a specific gender. First it is important to understand that gender is complicated and consists primarily of of three elements. The Gender role, this is the assumption of behavioral traits which are either masculine or feminine and considered to be correct or characteristic of a specific sex. The second element of gender is gender identity; this is a individuals private and personal sense of their sex. Third is an individual’s sexual orientation, which encompasses is individual’s desire for other individuals of similar or different genders from themselves. Sex is a biological term and it is used to distinguish the gender referring to the actual functional differences between males and females, an individual’s sex is the genetic difference an individual’s sex is encoded their chromosomes. Gender is a psychological term encompassing several different elements, this is a person’s psychological, biological, and sociological factors and the individuals feelings about sex. Gender role is the assumption of behavioral traits that are markedly masculine or feminine, and typically the traits are what are socially deemed to be appropriate or characteristic of a certain sex...
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...Gender Identity When the word gender is brought up, the first thought that comes to mind is weither the person is male or female. This is not necessarily correct. The term sex is a biological term that refers to the physical differences between males and females. If sex is the term that encompasses male or female, then what exactly is gender? Gender is a psychological term that refers to the awareness and reaction to the biological term of sex. It also is a term that can construe more than one meaning. Gender is determined by biological, psychological, and sociological factors. Gender consists of three elements: gender role, gender identity, and sexual orientation or preference (Kenyon, 1994-2006). Gender role, is defined as the outward manifestations of personality that reflect the gender identity. Basically, it occurs when someone adopts the masculine or feminine behavioral traits that are associated with each sex. Gender role is manifested within society by observable factors such as behavior and appearance (Ghosh, 2009). Gender identity refers to a person’s personal sense of whether he or she are male or female (or rarely, both or neither). Gender identity, in nearly all instances, is self-identified, as a result of a combination of inherent and extrinsic or environmental factors (Ghosh, 2009). And sexual orientation or preference is whom a person is physically and sexually attracted to. In this paper the topics of discussion will be the interaction between hormones and...
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...Gender Identity Psy/340 Gender Identity Introduction The endocrine system is made up of several glands that secrete different hormones. These glands are the: Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Thymus, Pancreas, and Adrenal Glands as well as the ovaries and testes. All of these glands have a hand in generating hormones responsible for different behaviors either directly or indirectly. “Gender identity is how we feel about and express our gender and gender roles — clothing, behavior, and personal appearance. It is a feeling that we have as early as age two or three” ("Gender And Gender Identity", 2001). While there is much to say about the brain and its relationship to personal gender identity it is also very evident that the interaction between hormones and behavior is a deciding factor as well. Biological Factors & Gender Identity Our personal biology is what we are born with, things that are distinctive to us. Whether someone has red or blonde hair, brown or blue eyes, or light or dark skin is part of their biology. More specifically our sexual organs are perhaps the most distinctive parts of our biology because they set the groundwork for how we will be viewed by society, whether we personally feel that way or not. I say this because our sexual organs will inevitably determine our appearance. Having male organs causes boys/men secrete more androgens or male hormones (testosterone) than girls. Because they secrete a larger amount of these hormones they will...
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...Gender Identity Paper Brandie Thurman PSY/340 May 25, 2013 Dr. Stephanie Sencil-White There are many biological, psychological, and sociological factors involved in the formation of gender identity. Gender identity is not completely understood as it is much more complex than the joining of a sperm and an egg. For many people, the terms “gender” and “sex” are interchangeable. Biological sex and gender are different; gender is not inherently connected to one’s physical anatomy as biological sex is. When one thinks’ of the term “gender”, we are referring to the role and personalities one assumes within society, for example in American culture females tend to be perceived as more nurturing and males are aggressive and dominant. Hormones and behavior affect gender identity in significant ways each with a distinct purpose. To understand the difference of biological sex and gender, nature versus nurture, and how the environment has an effect this paper will review and explain the interactions between hormones and behaviors and how those interactions affect the determination of gender identity. Gender development starts at the point one is conceived. Gender identity is defined as an individual’s self conception of being either male or female, as distinguished from actual biological sex (Britannica, 2013). Gender differences exist in nearly every social phenomena and for most persons, gender identity and biological characteristics are the same however there are some circumstances...
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...Gender Identity Paper Rechelle Stevenson PSY/340 Annie Powers 4-27-2014 In the research paper the reader will learn the meaning of gender identity and how hormones and behavior interact with each other. Also how hormones and behavior affect the determination of gender identity. Included will be the roles of biological factors. This paper will determine which has greater influence on gender identity nature or nurture. Gender identity is the acceptance of ones membership into a certain group of people. How an individual perceives themselves male or female is considered gender identity. Hormones play a major role in a person’s life; it affects their sex in two ways. Hormones affect the development from the time a person is conceived until they have grown into sexual maturity. Sexual maturity of anatomical, physiological, and behavioral traits determine a person as a male or female by activating the reproduction related behavior of sexual mature adults. Endocrine glands main function is to release hormones (University of Phoenix, 2009). A biological factor has a big part in shaping physical development. Males and females are born with distinctive sexual organs, these differences emerge around puberty. Hormones are responsible for the appearance of these physical differences. Too much androgen plays a major part in a male or female. Boys that have an excess amount of androgens tend to be fine and behave normally. Girls on the other hand are a different story; they tend...
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...Factors Influencing the Development of Gender Identity Lanita Doub Liberty University COUN 502-Human Growth & Development Laura Rolen August 11, 2012 Internal and External Factors Influencing the Development of Gender Identity Gender identity is defined as "the perception of oneself as male or female", ( Feldman, 2011). Gender is established by the time a child reaches his or her preschool years. "By the age of two, children consistently label themselves and those around them as male or female" (Feldman, 2011). Preschoolers are very rigid in their beliefs about gender-appropriate behavior. These beliefs become more pronounced by the age of five years. By age seven years the beliefs are still there, although less rigid. Preschooler's ideas of stereotypical behavior are compared to those of traditional adults. Preschoolers develop a gender schema, "a cognitive framework that organizes information relevant to gender"(Feldman, 2011). For example, a preschool boy may refuse to wear makeup in a school play because he knows that makeup is for girls only. In 1966, Lawrence Kohlberg proposed a cognitive-developmental theory, which explains the rigidity of preschoolers as their understanding of gender, and gender appropriate behavior (Feldman, 2011). Shuvo Ghosh states that the development of gender identity "clearly begins in the intrauterine stage". He attributes this to hormone production and surges during the...
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...Gender Identity Paper Khadija Kemp Psy/340 November 26, 2012 Instructor: Diane Snyder It appears as if the human body has been created to perform at its fullest potential according to just the right combination of hormones. Hormones are chemicals that are secreted from particular cells that flow into the bloodstream and then transported into a variety of body parts responsible for acting on certain tissues. These hormones affect physical and mental aspects of the human being. (Priya Johnson, 2011) The monthly menstrual cycle is just one of many biological factors that determine how hormones work in women. It is a very common for women to behave in a certain manner during the time of their menstrual cycle. Women are more prone to crave sex and have their sexual desire increase during the time of their menstrual cycle. Mood swings are known to occur frequently and without warning. Studies reveal that as women near their ovulation cycle, they will eat less and have greater sexual desire. They will pay closer attention to the opposite sex, become more flirtatious and even dress in a sexier manner to attract men. All of this happens as a result of the hormonal fluctuations occurring during the menstrual period. (Priya Johnson, 2011) Pregnancy and childbirth are other biological factors associated with hormone and behavior. A woman experiencing pregnancy is vulnerable to a variety of behavioral changes during this time. Pregnant women are known to go from...
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...Gender Identity Gender Identity is defined by, Encyclopedia Britannica “as an individual’s self-conception as being male or female, as distinguished from actual biological sex.” A person can identify the concept of being a male or female through their psychological alertness. As early as 18 months a child can identify one’s anatomic sex. Gender is always a debated issue in today’s society. Some people argue that gender is solely based on biological makeup (nature), or based on the environment and social interactions one was brought up in (nurture). In this paper, I will explain the interaction between hormones and behavior and how these interactions affect the determination of gender identity. From a biological factor (nature), gender is decided during fertilization. There is 23 pair of chromosomes that determines the sex of a fetus. Within the eggs of females, they only contain the X chromosome, although within the sperm of males it contains either an X or Y chromosome. The X and Y chromosomes in the male sperm are called sex chromosomes that determine the gender. In the womb, it is said that the all embryo start out as the same sex that all embryos have feminine looking genitalia. When the X chromosome of a male sperms reaches the X chromosomes of a female egg, the process of zygote takes places which, produce a combination of XX meaning the embryo is a female. When the Y chromosome of a male, reaches the X chromosome of the female egg in a process of zygote...
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