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PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH TO GENDER DEVELOPMENT - Coggle Diagram
PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH TO GENDER DEVELOPMENT
Freud
Gender development occurs during the phallic stage
Prior to the phallic stage, children have no concept of gender identity
Freud referred to pre-phallic children are neither masculine nor feminine
Once in the phallic stage, pleasure for the child switches to the genitals + children experience the Oedipus or Electra complex
RESEARCH IS ONLY BASED ON A CASE STUDY (LITTLE HANS) WHICH IS ONE INDIVIDUAL
The case study contains subjective interpretation + selective reporting
We can't test this theory, unlike the biological approach which we can test, therefore the theory is not based on genuine science + can't be proved wrong using scientific methods
This makes it difficult to generalise the results to the wider population due too individual differences
This questions the validity of the evidence that supports the Psychodynamic approach of gender development
Little Hans formed the basis for his belief in the Oedipus complex - had a phobia of horses which Freud argued was repressed + displaced fear of his father
During this stage, boys develop incestuous feelings towards their mother + a jealous/murderous hatred towards their father who stands in the way of possessing their mother
The boy does in fact recognise that their father is more powerful + fears he may be castrated by his father for his feelings for his mother
(castration anxiexty)
In order to resolve this conflict, the boys gives up love for his mother + begins to identify with his father
(identification)
It is this identification that starts the process of gender identity as the child will internalise the values + attitudes of his father and begin to understand what it is to be and how to act in a masculine manner
Little girls at the same time experience penis envy + see themselves in competition with their mother for their father's love
Double resentment towards mother who they see as a love rival standing in the way of their father + blame them for a lack of a penis
Overtime, they accept that they will never have a penis + substitute penis envy for the desire to have children (identification with their mother)
It is this identification that starts the process of gender identity as the child will internalise the values + attitudes of his mother and begin to understand what is to be and how to act in feminine manner
- IMPLIES A CHILD MUST GROW UP IN A CONVENTIONAL NUCLEAR FAMILY
Child must grow up with mother + father figures in order to develop a 'normal' gender identity
This was proven to be false by
Green (1978)
who studied 37 children growing up in no-traditional nuclear families (with gay or transsexual parents)
In all cases but 1, the children developed typical gender identities and role behaviours