PSY 3105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Amygdala, Adrenal Cortex, Masculinity

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 3105
• Professor: David Collins

Document Summary

Gender the social categories of male/female; the result of both developmental and social experience. Sex the biological status of being male or female. That males grow more muscular at puberty and females develop breasts is a sex difference. The fact that girls tend to have a more negative body image than males in adolescence is a gender difference. Gender roles set of shared cultural expectations about gender. Gender typing how children come to take on specific gender roles (through biological factors, socialization, and/or cognition) High levels of testosterone around the 8th week of gestation results in male genitalia. Prenatal hormones may also affect development of brain (amygdala and prefrontal cortex) Higher prenatal testosterone levels in girls are typically related to interest in masculine toys, games, and activities. Research findings suggest that genetics and environment make a significant contribution. Hormonal changes at puberty (release of adrenocortical hormones linked to the emergence of child"s first romantic interest)