This document provides information on biological and psychodynamic theories of sex and gender. It outlines key definitions, such as sex being defined physically and gender being defined mentally. The core biological theory discussed is that gender is determined by sex at birth and is innate. The core study discussed is Diamond and Sigmundson's review of the case of Bruce/Brenda Reimer. They concluded that even after being nurtured as female, Brenda felt masculine, showing gender is determined by biology, not nurture. Freud's psychodynamic theory is discussed as an alternative perspective, suggesting gender is determined by the unconscious Oedipus/Electra complexes during development.

1. SEX AND GENDER-
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Information and questions

2. CONTENTS PAGE
1. the theories
2. key definitions
3. questions on 1 and 2
4. biological theory
5. useful applications of biological
theory
6. evaluation of biological theory
7. questions on 4,5 and 6
8. Freuds psychodynamic theory
description
9. little Hans- Freuds case study
10. questions on 8 and 9
11. core study–Diamond and
Sigmundson
12. evaluation of core study–
Diamond and Sigmundson
13. questions on 11 and 12

3. THE THEORIES
The core theory biological theory
The core study Diamond and Sigmundson
The alternative theory Psychodynamic theory-
Freud

4. KEY DEFINITIONS
Sex~ this is the same in all cultures, it
is what you are physically
Gender~ what you are mentally, this
varies between cultures ( e.g. in the UK we
distinguish between gender identity as
being two things; masculine or feminine
but Mohave Indians, recognise four
different gender identities: traditional
males, traditional females, males who
choose to live as women and females who
choose to live as men)
Androgyny ~ equal balance of masculine
and feminine traits
Masculine ~ qualities traditionally
associated with men
Feminine ~ qualities traditionally
Masculine behaviours
- Logic
- Superior math/science
skills
- Aggression
- Strength
- Confidence
Feminine behaviours
- Empathy / Sympathy
- Patience
- Tenderness
- Superior English skills
- Bitchiness

5. 10 QUICK QUESTIONS – 15 MARKS
1. Define sex and gender: (2)
2. Give two differences between sex and gender: (2)
3. Give and example of each difference: (2)
4. Define androgyny: (1)
5. What is the core theory? (1)
6. What is the core study? (1)
7. What is the alternative theory? (1)
8. Define feminine: (1)
9. Define masculine: (1)
10. Give 3 examples of feminine and masculine behaviour: (3)

6. BIOLOGICAL THEORY –
DESCRIPTION-Gender is determined by sex at contraception, its is nurture
-This approach believes that our behaviours are instinctive to help us
survive and reproduce, this means that gender roles are instinctive
also.
-Females are ‘pickier’ with who they mate with (only 400 (approx.)
eggs to waste) whereas males produce millions of sperm so waste
them on anyone.
-Also explains why females are more caring and sensitive as they’re
equipped to deal with babies but males are more aggressive to protect
young and hunt for survival.
- If you’re male you are masculine and if you are female you are
feminine
- If your sex chromosomes are XY, the gonads form into testes
triggered by the release testosterone this therefore makes you a
masculine male

7. USEFUL APPLICATIONS OF THIS
THEORY
Education for the theory
- Single sex schooling, since this
theory highlights that males have
superior maths and science skills,
but females have superior English
skills, it enables schools to
provide extra lessons in the
subjects that sex is naturally
weaker in (e.g. more maths
lessons for girls and more English
lessons for males). The extra
provision would lead to equality
in achievements, therefore more
equal opportunities in later life.
Employment against the theory
- Positive discrimination, this
encourages a minority to apply for
jobs where they’re typically
underestimated, i.e. male nurses
- Certain areas of psychology
acknowledge that sex and gender do
not go together- it is nurtured.
Therefore there are feminine males
and masculine females
- Jobs that are suited to peoples
attributes should be made more
accessible

8. BIOLOGICAL THEORY –
EVALUATION+ There is research to support this theory, Diamond and Sigmundson proved that sex and
gender go together and that your gender is determined by nature…
+ more evidence suggested is that this theory is supported by chromosome abnormalities,
XYY makes someone a VERY masculine male and XXY makes someone a VERY feminine
female…
+ There are useful applications for this theory, these are in school. These applications ensure
equal opportunities in school…
- Freuds psychodynamic theory suggests that it is nurture that determines our gender and not
nature. He suggests the phallic stage (3-6), parental influence and identification… their
gender is therefore learnt…
- this theory is reductionist as it cannot explain the sudden rise in androgyny and why those
that are born female or male reassign themselves as the opposite sex as they feel masculine
and feminine. This shows that sex doesn’t establish gender and nurture cannot determine
said gender…
- the theory says that all females are biologically similar and all males are biologically similar,
however both sexes show a huge range of behaviours so how can they be sure that all females
are feminine and all males masculine?

9. 10 QUICK QUESTIONS – 20 MARKS
1. According to the biological approach, when is gender decided? (1)
2. What are the male sex chromosomes? (1)
3. What does the biological theory say about instincts? (2)
4. According to the biological theory, what is your gender if you are fe/male? (2)
5. Does sex determine gender? Is this nature or nurture? (2)
6. What research supports the biological theory? (1)
7. How are chromosome abnormalities linked to the theory? (2)
8. Is this theory reductionist? If so, why? (3)
9. What are the useful applications to this theory? Explain: (4)
10. Explain in detail how Freuds Psychodynamic theory is linked to this theory
for either a boy or girl: (2)

10. THE PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY –
FREUD
Oedipus complex
Males go through this
complex, unconsciously
they desire their mum
and want to be around
her, they want mum all
to themselves. However
they are afraid that their
father will find out and
take away his penis, this
is called castration fear.
Soon the boy
unconsciously sees what
dad has (mum/bigger
penis), and must identify
with him to learn how to
do this, thus meaning
that masculine traits
Electra complex
Females go through this
complex, they
unconsciously hate their
mum and desire their
father. The mother is
hated as the girl
unconsciously believes
that she took away her
penis, this is called
penis envy. Soon they
unconsciously wants a
baby to replace their
missing penis and sees
that mum has gone
through the same thing
so identifies with her to
get a baby, thus
Freud suggested:
- Gender is determined by
nurture and not nature
- We develop our gender at
the phallic stage ( aged 3 -
5, this is the psychosexual
development stage)
- Boys and girls go through
different stages called the
Oedipus complex and
Electra complex.
- Freud said that the
behaviours displayed in
these complexes are all a
part of our unconscious

11. FREUDS CASE STUDY- LITTLE
HANS
Behaviours
Little Hans had a phobia of horses,
especially those with blinkers and
black bits around their mouths
He hated his younger sister, especially
when mother was spending time with
her- he wanted her to drown in the
bath
He had dreams of having several
children, and when asked who the
mother was he replied with ‘mummy’ ,
he also had a dream that a plumber
came and took away his ‘widdler’ and
replaced it with a larger one
Freuds interpretation
~ His phobia was a symbol for this father, Little
Hans was afraid of the horses (his father) biting
(castrating) him for subconsciously desiring his
mum – hence the dreams and constantly
wanting to be with her. The blinkers
represented his fathers spectacles and the
black bits around the horses mouth
represented his fathers moustache.
~ He hated his younger sister as his mother
spent more time with her and he was jealous,
he wanted her to drown so that he could have
mum all to himself.
~ The dreams he had supported the idea that
he subconsciously desired his mum and that he
also wanted a larger penis thus meaning he
would then identify with his father.

12. 5 QUICK QUESTIONS – 10 MARKS
1. What it the name of Freuds theory? (1)
2. What did Freud suggest? (1)
3. Explain the Oedipus and Electra complex (what do fe/males
do unconsciously): (4)
4. Give two behaviours of little Hans? (2)
5. Give an explanation (according to the Freudian approach) of
each behaviour: (2)

13. CORE STUDY – DIAMOND AND
SIGMUNDSONAim to show that children cannot be nurtured into gender
roles, it is an innate, instinctual role you’re born with
therefore a factor of nature
Method reviewing a case study
Participants Bruce/Brenda/David and his brother Brian
Procedure they reviewed Dr Moneys notes and then
conducted their own interviews with Bruce/Brenda/David and
his family
Results they found and reviewed Dr Money’s notes on Bruce’s
gender reassignment working. It was said that the surgery
had worked because s/he played with dolls. However, after
having a deeper exploration of the notes Dr Money made and
looking at their own research, it was found that Brenda was
actually quite confused and felt masculine, s/he was
masculine the whole time. Examples of this include the fact
Conclusion
Diamond and
Sigmundson
concluded that
biology drives
gender. They came
to this conclusion
due to the fact that
even though
Bruce/Brenda had
been nurtured as a
female, Brenda had
felt masculine the
whole time and
actually became
male again when old

14. EVALUATION OF CORE STUDY
- it was too difficult to control the possible variables such as Brian being the role model, he could
have influenced Brenda to act and feel the way s/he did. This means that it would’ve actually been
nurture that resulted in Brenda feeling masculine as s/he would’ve been copying Brian's behaviour.
Additionally, s/he was raised as a boy for a year and a half, the parents knew that s/he should’ve
been male so may not have treated him/her completely female
- it is only a case study so it is difficult to make generalisations to the whole of the country or even
world. The gender reassignment may not have worked for Bruce/Brenda, but this could just be a
‘one off’ case so you cannot be sure that it would happen to everyone in that situation
- the interview may have been biased, they wanted to prove that gender is down to nature so the
questions used could’ve been leading in order to get the answers they wanted to prove their
hypothesis
- due to the fact that the interviews conducted by Diamond and Sigmundson were many, many years
after Dr Money’s investigation, it relies purely on the memory of David, the information given
could’ve been exaggerated, false or implicit ideas
+there was lots of information that was collected over a long period of time, as well as it being a
case study. This means that the researcher would have had a better understanding of the behaviour
being studied as they can go into lots of depth as well as seeing the development of the case
+ because Brenda had an identical twin brother, Brian, they were able to use him as a control. Due
to the fact that they’re identical, their biology would be more or less identical also so that meant
that it was a natural experiment design…

15. 10 QUICK QUESTIONS – 25 MARKS
1. What did D&S want to find out? (1)
2. What was their method and procedure? (2)
3. Who was their study about? (2)
4. Explain what they found out: (5)
5. What conclusion did they come to? (2)
6. Give two strengths of this study: (4)
7. What variables were difficult to control? How did this possibly effect the
results? (2)
8. What are the positives and negatives about the fact that it was a case
study? (4)
9. Are the results accurate from the second rounds of interviews? (1)
10. If not, explain why: (2)

16. 10 MARKER POSSIBILITIES
Describe and evaluate the biological approach to sex and
gender (10 marks)
Or
Describe and evaluate Diamond and Sigmundsons study
(10 marks)

17. QUESTION ANSWERS
A* - 75-
80
A - 69-
74
B – 60-68
C – 45-
59
D – 35-
44
E – 20-34
F – >19
Total marks available: 80

18. QUESTION ANSWERS – SLIDE 5
1. sex: what you are
physically
Gender: what you are
mentally (2)
2. your sex is the same in
all cultures, your gender
changes within different
cultures (2)
gender identities-
feminine, masculine.
Mohave Indians have 4
gender identities-
traditional male/female,
male that lives as female,
female that lives as a
male (2)
4. androgyny: equal
balance of masculine and
feminine traits (1)
5. biological theory (1)
6. diamond and
Sigmundson (1)
7. Freuds psychodynamic
theory (1)
8. traits traditionally
associated with females
(1)
9. traits traditionally
associated with males (1)
10. masculine: Logic ,
Superior math/science
skills, Aggression,
Strength, Confidence
Feminine: Empathy /
Sympathy, Patience,
Tenderness, Superior
English skills, Bitchiness
(3)
15 marks in
total!

19. QUESTION ANSWERS – SLIDE 9 20 MARKS
AVAILABLE!!
1. contraception (1)
2. XY (1)
3. our biology is what decides our gender identity in
order for us to be able to survive and reproduce.
Men have masculine traits such as aggression in
order to protect family and hunt to survive. Women
have feminine traits such as sensitivity and
pickiness so that they can look after their young
and be able to pick a sufficient enough partner that
will make sure they survive. (2)
4. female=feminine / male=masculine (2)
5. yes. Nature (2)
6. diamond and Sigmundsons review of a case study
(1)
feminine (2)
8. yes it is reductionist as it cannot explain the
sudden rise in androgyny- to get all marks ensure
its fully developed (2)
9. useful applications are in education. Same sex
schooling to give equal opportunities for the
different sexes as the theory claims that males are
weaker in English and females weaker at
maths/science, in same sex schooling they’re given
extra lessons what they’re supposedly weaker in to
ensure they are able to get equal opportunities as
the opposite sex in the exams etc. full explanation
required for full marks. (3)
10. Freud believes its down to your nurture. Gender
identity is decided in the phallic stage (3-6 years)
(4)
A full detailed explanation of either the Oedipus or
Electra complex is needed. The word
‘unconscious/ly’ must be use, no words that

20. QUESTION ANSWERS – SLIDE 12
1. psychodynamic theory (1)
2. gender identity is a product of nurture- must refer
to phallic stage (1)
3. full explanation of Oedipus and Electra complex
needed for full marks, must use ‘unconscious/ly’-
cannot make it out as if there is free will involved (4)
4. any of the behaviours shown are acceptable, full
description not necessary (2)
5. a brief explanation of the Freudian theory behind
the behaviours is acceptable (2)
10 AVAILABLE
MARKS!!

21. QUESTION ANSWERS – SLIDE 15
1. to show that children cannot be
nurtured into gender roles, it is an
innate, instinctual role you’re born with
therefore a factor of nature (1)
2. reviewing a case study.
Bruce/Brenda/David and his brother Brian
(2)
3. David Reimer (a brief explanation of
the background can be added) (2)
4. must explain in sufficient enough
detail to achieve full marks, example
answer: they found and reviewed Dr
Money’s notes on Bruce’s gender
reassignment working. It was said that
the surgery had worked because s/he
played with dolls. However, after having a
deeper exploration of the notes Dr Money
made and looking at their own research,
it was found that Brenda was actually
quite confused and felt masculine, s/he
was masculine the whole time. Examples
of this include the fact that s/he enjoyed
play fighting and masculine sports, as
well as having a none gay desire to be
with females. (5)
6. +there was lots of information that was
collected over a long period of time, as
well as it being a case study. This means
that the researcher would have had a
better understanding of the behaviour
being studied as they can go into lots of
depth as well as seeing the development
of the case
+ because Brenda had an identical twin
brother, Brian, they were able to use him
as a control. Due to the fact that they’re
identical, their biology would be more or
less identical also so that meant that it
was a natural experiment design…
Must be detailed for 4 marks, any other
sufficient point is incredible (4)
7. - it was too difficult to control the
possible variables such as Brian being the
role model, he could have influenced
Brenda to act and feel the way s/he did.
This means that it would’ve actually been
nurture that resulted in Brenda feeling
masculine as s/he would’ve been copying
Brian's behaviour. Additionally, s/he was
Other credible references to the inability
to control a variable (2)
8. +there was lots of information that
was collected over a long period of time,
as well as it being a case study. This
means that the researcher would have
had a better understanding of the
behaviour being studied as they can go
into lots of depth as well as seeing the
development of the case
- it is only a case study so it is difficult to
make generalisations to the whole of the
country or even world. The gender
reassignment may not have worked for
Bruce/Brenda, but this could just be a
‘one off’ case so you cannot be sure that
it would happen to everyone in that
situation (4)
9. could be yes or no (1)
10. no because it relies on memory of the
participants and questions may be
25 marks
available!

22. 10 MARKER