Biosocial Approach to Gender Development

Once a biological male or female is born, social labelling and differential treatment interact with biological factors to steer development

The theory attempted to integrate nature and nurture

Sex of rearing is a pivotal point in gender development

If a genetic male is miss labelled as a girl and treated as a girl, he would acquire the identity of a girl

The label is the key

Selective pressures only cause physical differences

These lead to sex role allocations which create psychological sex differences

Division of labour is a product of biologically based differences

Mate choice preferences are determined by social role

Hormonal differences are the outcome of social roles and psychological differences

BIOSOCIAL THEORY

Challenged by David Reimer

Study of abnormal individuals doesn't reflect normal gender development

EAGLY AND WOOD

Evolutionary theory is a simpler explanation

Selective pressures act on behaviour as well as physical factors

Gender differences arise without socialization

Social construtionism- differences in gender role are not inevitable

Real World Application- value of social role approach, leads to changes in social roles and so to changes in psychological differences.