PSYC of G ch. 6

the knowledge that gender is a permanent characteristic and will not change with superficial alterations

individual identification of self as female or male

a disorder that occurs when a child rejects the gender role that corresponds to biological sex and adopts cross-gender behaviors and possibly a cross-gender identity

a mixture of actual information with phony details into a realistic portrayal that is really fiction

an individual who receives hormonal and surgical treatment to be changed to the other sex

• begin during infancy
• ages 2 to 3: apply gender labels and understand behaviors and features
• ages 6 to 7: complete understanding

• children: rigid and inflexible in application of gender rules
• stereotyping not as strong during adolescents and adulthood

• biology influences gender development
• difficult to distinguish from social influences
• identification of genitals prompts social events related to gender development
• prenatal hormone exposure affects gender typed behaviors more than gender identity

• important influence by families
• traditional families have children with traditional gender attitudes
• fathers tend to promote traditional gender behaviors most
• parents and siblings create a gendered environment
• peers push others towards inflexible gender roles

strong force in establishing and perpetuating traditional gender roles

• requires persistent identification with and desire to be the other gender
• treatment and diagnosis is controversial