Adolescent Psychology Exam 2

Adolescent Psychology Exam 2

Gender

Sociocultural and psychological dimensions of being male or female

Gender Role

A set of expectations that describe how females and males should think, act, and feel

What did Freud and Erikson believe?

“An individual’s genitals influence their gender behavior”

How would a evolutionary psychologist explain gender differences?

They state that males and females faced different pressures in primeval environments when the human species was evolving

What do critics of evolutionary psychology argue?

People are not locked into behavior that was adaptive in the evolutionary view; it pays little attention to cultural/individual gender differences

What environmental factors do males face?

Multiple sexual relationships and competing with other males

What environmental factors do females face?

Goal of acquiring resources for offspring

Social role theory

Gender differences mainly result from the contrasting roles of females and males

Siblings become ____ similar to older siblings in gender role and leisure

more

Parents influence the gender development of their adolescents (T/F)

True

Mother’s socialization strategies

Mother’s socialize daughters to be more obedient and responsible

Father’s socialization strategies

Pay more attention to and engage in more activities with sons

Social cognitive theory of gender

Children’s and adolescents gender development is influenced by their observation and imitation of others’ gender behavior and by rewards and punishments they experience for gender appropriate behavior and gender inappropriate behavior

How does the classroom treat males?

More likely to have learning problems

More likely to be criticized by teachers

More likely to be ignored when having academic problems

More likely to be stereotyped as problematic

More likely to get lower scores and to repeat grades

How does the classroom treat females?

More likely to work quietly on their own while teachers focus on males

More likely to get less instruction

More likely to get higher grades

More likely to believe that they wont be successful in college

Gender schema theory

gender-typing emerges as individuals gradually develop gender schemas of what is gender appropriate and gender inappropriate in their culture

Schema

A cognitive structure and a network of associations that guides an individuals perceptions

Gender schema

Organized the world in terms of female and male

Gender stereotypes

Broad categories that reflect our impressions and beliefs about females and males

What are the physical differences between boys and girls?

Body fat, height, strength

What are the health differences between boys and girls?

Life expectancy and mental health problems

Women are ____ likely to develop mental and physical health problems

less

Are there gender differences in math?

No

Are there gender differences in visuospatial skills?

Yes, males have better visuospatial skills

Are there gender differences in reading and writing skills?

Yes, females outperform males

What type of aggression do females show?

Relational aggression

Males are more ______ aggressive

physically

Rapport talk

Language of conversation and a way of establishing connections and negotiating relationships (females engage in this more often)

Report talk

Talk that gives information (males engage in this more often)

Girls are more ____ oriented

people

Boys are more _____ oriented

thing

Prosocial behavior

Behavior that is kind and considerate (females engage in this more often)

Females are ______ at decoding emotions than males

better

Males are more likely to help when?

When danger is present and they feel competent to help

Females are more likely to help when?

When the context involves volunteering to spend time with children

Males are more likely to display anger towards ______

strangers

Androgyny

The presence of a high degree of masculine and feminine characteristics in the same individual

Females still receive less education than males by ____ years

4.4

“Boy code”

Tells boys that they should have little emotion and to be taught and not sensitive

Adolescent boys who adopt a traditionally strong masculine role tend to exhibit more __________

behavior problems (alcoholism, drug abuse, delinquency)

Gender-role Transcendence

The view that when an individual’s competence is at issue, it should be conceptualized on a person basis rather than on the basis of masculinity, femininity, or androgyny

Gender intensification hypothesis

Psychological and behavioral differences between boys and girls become greater during early adolescence because of increased socialization pressure to conform to traditional masculine and feminine gender roles

Carol Gilligan’s ideas

Girls experience life differently than males, they’re more sensitive and they may hesitate to share their opinions and be assertive

Criticisms of Carol

Overemphasizes gender differences

Rarely includes a comparison group of boys

Reinforces stereotypes

How can we guide a male adolescents’ gender development?

Encourage prosocial behavior

Encourage less physical aggression

Teach boys to handle emotions

How can we guide a female adolescents’ gender development?

Encourage girls to be proud of relationship skills

Encourage development of self-competencies

Encourage achievement

Encourage assertiveness

Gender Role

Behaviors and attitudes given historical period designates as masculine or feminine

Trevor Project

Leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ+

Gender expression

How gender identity is communicated to others

Gender identity

An individuals personal sense of self as male, female, or alternate gender

Gender dysphoria

Clinically significant distress resulting from incongruence between one’s assigned sex and asserted gender

In order for one to be diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria (GD) they need to have what? (Adults)

6 months of significant distress resulting from incongruence between one’s assigned sex and asserted gender as well as at least two of the following:

• A marked incongruence between one’s assigned sex and asserted gender

• A strong desire to be rid of one’s primary or secondary sex characterisitcs

• A strong desire for the primary or secondary characteristics of the other gender

• A strong desire to be of the other gender

• A strong desire to be treated as the other gender

• A strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender

In order for one to be diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria (GD) they need to have what? (Children)

6 months of significant distress resulting from incongruence between one’s assigned sex and asserted gender as well as at least six of the following:

• A Strong desire to be of the other gender or an instance that one is the other gender

• A strong preference for wearing clothes typical of the opposite gender 

• A strong preference for cross gender roles and make-believe play or fantasy play 

• A strong preference for the toys games or activities stereotypically used or engaged in by the other gender 

• A strong preference for Playmates of the other gender 

• A strong rejection of the toys games and activities typical of one's assigned gender 

• A strong dislike of one sexual anatomy 

• A strong desire for the physical sex characteristics that match one's experience gender 

children begin showing gendered behaviors and interests at what age?

2-4

Children who had more intense symptoms and distress were ____ likely to become transgender adults

more

GD that persists into adolescence is ______ to subside

unlikely

Developing a sexual identity involves

Learning to manage sexual feelings

Developing new forms of intimacy

Learning the skills to regulate sexual behavior

Development of sexual orientation

Sexual Script

A stereotyped pattern of role prescriptions for how individuals should behave sexually

The majority of adolescent sexual experiences involve

The male making sexual advances and the female setting limits

Men’s approach to sex is ______; women’s approach is __________

physical; emotional/relational

Men are always ready for sex; women inhibit _________

sexual expression

Risk factors for sexual problems in adolescence

Socioeconomic status, poverty, immigration, substance abuse, and family/peer factors

Family risk factors

Low parental monitoring

Sexual active older siblings

Associating with more deviant peers

Individual characteristics

Two factors of Cognitive and Personality in adolescent sexuality

Self-control and impulsiveness

Casual sex is more common in

Emerging adulthood

The majority of sexual minority, experience same-sex attraction before or during ______

adolescence

Preference for sexual partner of the same or other sex is a fixed decision (T/F)

False

Homophobia

Having irrational negative feelings against individuals who have same-sex attractions

What factors are related to unsuccessful contraceptive use?

Young adolescent

SES

Concerns of embarrassment

Adolescent pregnancy rates

More than 200,000 pregnant before their 18th birthday

Many become pregnant in early or mid-adolescence

The US has the lowest rate of adolescent pregnancy in the developed world (T/F)

False (US is the highest)

In other countries, what values do they have regarding pregnancy

Childbearing is an adult activity

Clear messages about sexual behavior

Access to family planning services

The Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending the right to abortion (T/F)

True (2022)

Psychological risks of abortion

Abortion does not lead to mental health problems for adolescents

Consequences of Adolescent Pregnancy

Infants are more likely to have low birth weight

Mothers often drop out of school

Some do well and have positive outcomes

Only ______ pregnant adolescent girls receive any prenatal care during the critical first three months of pregnancy

1 in 5

Adolescent mothers are

Less competent at child bearing and have less realistic expectations for their infant

Adolescent fathers are often involved with their children (T/F)

False

Conger’s four recommendations for reducing teen pregnancy

1. Sex education an family planning

2. Access to contraceptive methods

3. The life options approach

4. Broad community involvement and support

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Infections that are contracted through sexual contact.

STIs caused by viruses

AIDS, genital herpes, genital warts

STIs caused by bacterial infections

Gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia

AIDS

a sexually transmitted syndrome caused by HIV which destroys the body’s immune system

Problematic for adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa

Forcible sexual behavior and sexual harassment

The right to not have sexual intercourse when they don’t wish to do so

The right to tell a partner they are being to rough

The right to use any form of birth control during intercourse

Rape

Forcible sexual intercourse with a person who does not give consent

Date rape/acquaintance rape

the type of rape which is coercive sexual activity directed at someone whom the perpetrator knows

Increasing in high school and college

Common characteristics among rapists

Aggression enhances their sense of power or masculinity

They are angry at females

They want to hurt their victims

Factors associated with sexual victimization

Living on campus

Being unmarried

Getting drunk

Being sexually victimized prior

Red Zone

A period of time early in the first year of college when women are at especially high risk for unwanted sexual experiences

Quid pro quo sexual harassment

When a school employee threatens to base and educational decision on a student’s submission to unwelcome sexual conduct

Hostile environment sexual harassment

When students are subjected to unwelcome sexual conduct that is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it limits the students’ ability to benefit from their education

Sex education in schools

Sex education programs that emphasize contraceptive knowledge do not increase the incidence of sexual intercourse

Parents want schools to provide comprehensive sexual education

Early sexual activity is linked with

Risky behaviors

Family strengths in childhood protect against

early initiation of sexual activity

Condom use is on the rise (T/F)

False

Sexuality occurs across a ______

continuum

Gender is a ________ construct

nonbinary

The variety of sexual orientations, gender identies, and gender expressions are normal (T/F)

True

Interventions aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity are effective (T/F)

False

Sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions _________

do not constitute a mental disorder