Powerpoint by Elisabeth Brookes

1. Gender development
Biological approach

2. A boy or a girl?

3. In the first 6-8 weeks
(Male)
(Female)
All foetuses have the same undeveloped sex organs. The
original system can develop into both male or female sex
organs. It is the presence or absence of a single gene (SRY
gene) which will dictate the future development of the foetus
as a male or a female.

4. Male development
XY

5. Male development
SRY gene produces a protein :
Testis Determining Factor (TDF)
TDF influences the development
of the gonads, they become testis
The testis produce testosterone
Testosterone triggers the
development of external male
organs i.e. penis

6. Female development
The absence of male hormone will result in the
development of the Mullerian system into
female sex organs

8. Between 8-24 weeks: Male
weeks
foetuses are exposed to
higher levels of testosterone
than female foetuses.
From 24 weeks until birth:
gonadal hormones are low in
both sexes
The first 6 months of life:
testosterone is higher in boys
than girls

9. Action of testosterone on the brain

11. Men and women produce the same
hormones but in different quantity.
Oestrogen
Progesterone
Testosterone
Oestrogen
Testosterone
Progesterone

12. On average, men produce
between 4 and 10mg of the
hormone per day and overall
they have about 20 times more
testosterone than women.

14. It is difficult to measure the amount
of hormones because they are very
similar and the body sometimes
converts the one into the other
Testosteron
e Progesterone
And… the body can convert one
hormone into another

15. Puberty
After around 10 years, the hypothalamus releases a
hormone which affects the anterior pituitary gland and
this causes the gonads to become active. They control
the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

16. Androgen insensitivity syndrome
(Testicular feminization)
Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is when a person
who is genetically male (has one X and one Y
chromosome) is resistant to male hormones called
androgens. As a result, the person has some or all of
the physical characteristics of a woman, despite having
the genetic makeup of a man.

17. How does testosterone influence
behaviour?
Testosterone Aggressive behaviour
High sex drive
Poor language development
What evidence is there to support these statements?

18. How do oestrogen and
progesterone affect behaviour?
Premenstrual syndrome
67% of Alcohol Drinking
Binges during PMS
Myth or reality?
45 % of Attempted Suicides occurred PMS has been used as a
during the week preceding Menstruation legal defence with
(Wallach and Rubin, 1968) varying degree of
success
North Carolina Prison Study 41 % of the inmate
assaults during PMS (Ellis& Austin, 1971)

19. Evaluation
• This approach does not take into account
social factors such as social norms.
• Behaviours could be learnt through social
learning.
• Self-fulfilling prophecy could explain the
difference in behaviour between gender.
• It is determinist … explain
• It explains the case of David Reimer

20. You need 16 AO2/AO3 use the books
and share your findings