Cultural Diversity Issue Related to Biological Psychology - Research Paper Example

Cultural Diversity Issue Related To Biological Psychology al affiliation Cultural Diversity Issue Related To Biological Psychology Gender identity is a complex system of ideologies that surround masculinity and femininity, in regard to the roles give to men and women by the society, and their relationship to maleness and femaleness relative to the self. Gender identity is indicated through behavioral expressions of femininity and masculinity, feelings that surround the body as sexual and personal perceptions in regard to how other people will respond to the expressions of gender. Sexual differentiation is a biological process but gender identity is not a biological process. Gender identity develops itself through the influence of a number of environmental factors such as parental example, language use, and social reinforcement (Muwonge, 2010). Children acquire sex appropriate behavior from their parents and it further reinforced by the society. They also know the meaning of “she and he” and how to use such terms among themselves. The multiplier effect is responsible for an individual’s behavior that gender can be attributed to. Generally, the behavioral tendencies as a result of the brain exposure to hormones results in the male and female behavioral expressions; the behavior between the two (male and female) is slightly different. These expressions are either discouraged or encouraged during the course of an individual’s lifetime (Muwonge, 2010). It is imperative to note that gender identity (that is, the perception of oneself as a girl or a boy) begins during the early childhood time (Chrisler and McCreary, 2010). However, there are some authors who disagree with the notion that gender identity is not a biological process. Sammons (2009), assert that biological psychology recognizes gender role and identity as arising from biological processes. Gender differences tend to result from the sex differences. In other words, men and women think, feel, and act differently because of the variances in how their brains function. The brain differences are brought about by the chromosomal differences and they can be as a result of the hormonal differences. Men and women are chromosomally different; men have a Y and an X chromosome (XY) and women have 2 X chromosomes (XX). In other words, “gender identity occurs through the presence of chromosomes that determine the extent to which the cells in the body develop into the physical structures of a male or female” (Carducci, 2009). After conception, male and female embryos cannot be distinguished from each other except through their chromosomes. However, the male Y chromosome begins to promote the production of the testosterone and other male sex hormones (androgens). These male sex hormones are responsible for the development of penis and testes instead of the uterus and ovaries. The androgens are also responsible for the differential development of the male brain; the brain develops differently from that of the female. Based on this perspective, the brain development differences and brain activity differences are as a result of the secretions of the male sex hormones in adulthood; they cause men to behave in a different manner from the women, for example, the act of aggression by men (Sammons, 2009). Some individuals are born with a chromosomal pattern that is atypical. Individuals with the Klinefelter’s syndrome (XXY) are male biologically but they have an extra chromosome (the X chromosome). This results in physical effects such as absence of body hair and genitals that are underdeveloped, and psychological effects such as passive temperament and poor language skills. Individuals with the Turner’s syndrome (XO) are female biologically but they lack one of the X chromosomes. The physical effects associated with syndrome include characteristic webbing at the neck and a short body. Psychological effects include poor mathematical and spatial skills (Sammons, 2009). Men and women produce sex hormones that are different in their functions and quantities. These hormones have an effect on the body organs functioning (in women they cause menstrual cycle) and they tend to have an effect on the behavior of the individual. Testosterone is produced in large quantities by men and it affects several forms of behavior; some of these behaviors are described as purely male. For example, violent offenders are found to have high levels of the hormone testosterone than non-violent offenders and financial traders who have a high level of testosterone tend to take greater risks. On the other hand, women have high levels of the hormone oxytocin than men. A number of researchers have linked the hormone to increased sociability. Oxytocin is thought to have an impact on the formation of attachments and bonds between individuals and it has been found that the high levels of oxytocin are associated with enhanced memory for faces (Sammons, 2009). It is important to note that, the biological view of gender is given support by the cross-cultural studies that have established the universal characteristics of gender. For example, all the cultures studied have shown that men are more aggressive than women which indicate an inborn biological difference. Other studies have indicated that the things that men and women look for in a probable mate are different (the study was done on a large number of cultures); men constantly prioritize physical attractiveness and youth and women look for status and wealth (Sammons, 2009). There are other cases where an individual develops as a hermaphrodite. Hermaphrodites have the main features of both sexes. In such a case, gender identity “occurs through the process of deciding on what sex the child will be raised as, and using corrective surgery to create the appropriate external genitals and other physical features" (Carducci, 2009). Individuals who identify themselves with gender opposite of theirs exist in many cultures worldwide. There are men who strongly identify with women. In the Western culture, these individuals are considered to have a gender identity disorder. They are usually referred to as winkte or berdaches in the Native American culture, in India they are referred to as hijras and in Oman they are called xanith; these individuals go by different names among the many other cultures (Barlow and Durand, 2009). The description of these men is quite the same across these cultures (majority of these cultures have no contact with each making it an interesting phenomenon); this indicates that the identifications are made independently. In the mentioned groups, a biological male dressing in a woman’s clothing has an effeminate feature and mannerisms and he functions socially as a female – he performs sex with other men and fulfills the traditional female social duties. In many cultures these men experience ostracism, condemnation and harassment; however, other cultures have accepted them fully into the society as a third gender. In some occasions, they are thought to hold spiritual powers and a special status. For example, the berdache are regarded different from the other women and men and they are thought to possess sacred powers that are used for things such as protecting people from danger and curing illnesses (Barlow and Durand, 2009). The hijras are regarded as neither female nor male and many cases they undergo castration so as to deny them the ability to father a child or even have sex; these individuals are considered to have spiritual powers. The xanith do not possess any special powers but like the hijras and berdache they are offered special privileges and status such as segregation with the other woman. These three groups of individuals are accepted into their respective societies and they perform a special function in their culture; their behavior is regarded as natural and at times supernatural (Barlow and Durand, 2009). Because of the biological differences, these individuals are accepted in some societies and rejected in others. References Barlow, D. H. & Durand, V. M. (2009). Essentials of abnormal psychology. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Carducci, B. J. (2009). The psychology of personality: Viewpoints, research, and applications. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell Chrisler, J. C. & McCreary, D. R. (2010). Handbook of gender research in psychology, volume 1. London, UK: Springer Muwonge, N. (2010, June 22). Gender identity and biological psychology. Tucson, AZ. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/psychology-in-tucson/gender-identity-and-biological-psychology Sammons, A. (2009). Gender: biological theory. Retrieved from http://www.psychlotron.org.uk/newResources/developmental/AS_AQB_gender_BioBasics.pdf Read More