Topic Summaries

Gender incongruence biological and social explanations

A-Level > Psychology > AQA > A-Level Psychology Topic Summaries > Gender > Gender incongruence biological and social explanations
Previous Module
Next Module

Addiction

  • Gender incongruence develops when an individual believes their biological sex is not in line with their gender. Therefore, they experience gender dysphoria and identify with the opposite gender. The terms ‘gender incongruence’ and ‘gender dysphoria’ replaced the previous diagnostic label of ‘gender identity disorder’ in 2013 to reduce the stigma of the word ‘disorder.’
  • The cause for gender incongruence is not fully understood but is theorised to be a combination of biological and social factors. The treatment for gender incongruence involves socially transitioning (i.e.identifying as their preferred gender and having other people respect this) and may include hormone replacement therapy or gender-affirming surgeries.
  • Genetic explanations have mainly focused on twin studies (e.g.👥 Coolidge (2002) identified gender incongruence in 2.3% of 157 pairs of twins).
  • Cognitive explanation: 👥 Liben and Bigler (2002) suggested that dual pathways occur when children acquire attitudes and behaviours that are in line with gender stereotypes. The personal pathways occurs when the child interests expresses an influence on traditional attitudes and behaviours. This causes them to change due to their rapidly changing schemas and what it means to be a male or female.

Unlock Gender incongruence biological and social explanations

Subscribe to SnapRevise+ to get immediate access to the rest of this resource.

Premium accounts get immediate access to this resource.

Previous Module
Next Module