Biosocial Theory of Gender D ment 2015 3
Biosocial Theory of Gender Development
Interactionist perspective- “Nature lays the foundations, which culture tends to adorn, embellish and re-shape.”
References: Lips p83
Plotnik p342
Burton, Westen and Kowalski p516-17
Gross page 525
Coon p637 INTERACTION between social and biological factors which is the key to gender development- idea is that people are raised /treated differently (environment) according to their biological sex (heredity). Therefore, one set of conditions creates another, and the 2 interact with each other.
Culture emphasises differences that exist naturally.
How does this work?
Biological predispositions lead to different social reactions which shape individuals. E.g. male babies more irritable, which may lead to caregivers treating them less warmly, which might be expressed as traits like independence/aggressive
Innate differences dictate how society is organised, which in turn create expectancies about what males and females are like. For example, Men occupy roles of power and women tends to occupy submissive roles within in our society (e.g. doctor- nurse/ manager-secretary) which leads us to expect men to be more powerful and women to be submissive.
Physical differences (size, strength) dictate the sorts of activities and roles given to males and females in society (e.g. males go to war) which in turn creates gender roles we teach our children.
Sex role socilaisation- read Coon and summarise here
EVIDENCE FOR: Wood and Eagly (2002)- hormones (page 83 Lips)
Competition: The biosocial theory might explain men’s attraction to and engagement with competitive roles by noting both the social expectation that men will be competitive and the tendency for men’s testosterone levels to rise when they are expected to be in competitive situations.
Nuturance: The theory might explain women attraction to and involvement in the mothering role by noting both the cultural pressures toward motherhood for women and the hormonal changes that
Interactionist perspective- “Nature lays the foundations, which culture tends to adorn, embellish and re-shape.”
References: Lips p83
Plotnik p342
Burton, Westen and Kowalski p516-17
Gross page 525
Coon p637 INTERACTION between social and biological factors which is the key to gender development- idea is that people are raised /treated differently (environment) according to their biological sex (heredity). Therefore, one set of conditions creates another, and the 2 interact with each other.
Culture emphasises differences that exist naturally.
How does this work?
Biological predispositions lead to different social reactions which shape individuals. E.g. male babies more irritable, which may lead to caregivers treating them less warmly, which might be expressed as traits like independence/aggressive
Innate differences dictate how society is organised, which in turn create expectancies about what males and females are like. For example, Men occupy roles of power and women tends to occupy submissive roles within in our society (e.g. doctor- nurse/ manager-secretary) which leads us to expect men to be more powerful and women to be submissive.
Physical differences (size, strength) dictate the sorts of activities and roles given to males and females in society (e.g. males go to war) which in turn creates gender roles we teach our children.
Sex role socilaisation- read Coon and summarise here
EVIDENCE FOR: Wood and Eagly (2002)- hormones (page 83 Lips)
Competition: The biosocial theory might explain men’s attraction to and engagement with competitive roles by noting both the social expectation that men will be competitive and the tendency for men’s testosterone levels to rise when they are expected to be in competitive situations.
Nuturance: The theory might explain women attraction to and involvement in the mothering role by noting both the cultural pressures toward motherhood for women and the hormonal changes that
References: EVIDENCE FOR: Wood and Eagly (2002)- hormones (page 83 Lips)