Atypical gender development

AGD/ gender dysphoria

Someone gender identity and biological sex do not match and so they display significant signs of psychological distress for example feeling trapped in their body, due to this they may believe they need gender reassignment surgery ti allow their sex and gender identity to match

Bio explanantion of gender dysphoria Brain sex and Hormones

brain sex theory Zhou suggests gender dysphoria is due to brain structures being closer to the gender the person identifies with rather than their biological sex. EG the BSTc is typically larger in males therefore a female who experiences GID may have a larger BSTc

Also genetics Coolidge found a 62% concordance rate for GID in mz twins compared to 28% in dz twins. This suggests that genetic factors may play a significant role in the development of GID

Social factors

Cross-gender behaviour rewarded (e.g., uncle wearing a dress and receiving compliments) encourages imitation, peers who break gender norms offer the child a different pathway but may also cause internal conflict about gendered behaviour

AO3- Supportive research

Van Bijsterveldt’s large twin study found 70% of the variance in gender-typical behaviour is due to genetic factors, suggesting a strong biological basis for gender identity and behaviour. supporting the biological explanation for atypical gender development, proposing that variations in genes, hormones, or brain structures can influence an individual’s gender identity, sometimes leading to atypical gender development

AO3- Sensitive

Research must be conducted carefully as it can have long term consequences on individuals for example if an individual finds out they have biological abnormalities they may believe becoming transsexual is inevitable and for those with AGD it may lead to discrimination and the belief it needs to be treated, so the research into AGD is socially sensitive and requires clear communication, and respect for individuals’ autonomy and well-being

AO3- SR

Zucker interviewed the mothers on 115 Male to female children and asked about childhood separation anxiety it was fun that those with GID had higher levels of separation anxiety than those without GID suggesting. strong link between childhood interactions and Gender Dysphoria, supporting research into the social explanations for gender dysphoria as it suggests that disrupted attachment or early childhood stress may contribute to the development of gender dysphoria, supporting the idea that environmental and social factors play a key role