PSY 3121 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Autism, Late-Onset Hypogonadism, Menopause
24 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
PSY3121A Dr. Mary-Theresa Howard
Hormones & Chromosomes 09.05.18
Biology and Gender
Development
Genes determine if embryo is male (XY) or female (XX), as embryo develops the receive hormones
• Genes require a boost of hormones to develop a male (testosterone) or a female (estrogen)
Complications occur when the genes are abnormal or hormone levels are incorrect
• Turers sydroe, to oy has higher testosteroe levels
Issues
Prenatal development
• viability – males are more risky (tend to have more miscarriages with boys), more complications occur
with baby boy deliveries
• hormonal abnormalities
• fetal development
• sex chromosomal abnormalities – i.e turers sydroe iproper developet of the ody
Infancy and childhood – autism could be due to gestational complications
Adolescence and Young adulthood – growth, secondary sex characteristics present issues of young abortions
• girls do just as well as boys academically, but girls receive different pressures i.e find a good husband
rather than develop a good career path
Middle and later adulthood
• life expectancy is ~4 years longer than men, men are more susceptible to chronic diseases
o depression is more reported in women b/c they tend to seek physician help
• changes in appearance and physiology
o women experience menopause, stop production of estrogen and has physical affects
o men have andropause testosterone levels begin to decrease and quality of sperm decreases but
can still produce gametes and make a baby; becomes more impulsive (behavior changes)
• attitudes on menopause
o some cultures are very accepting to it and see it as a stage of life (move on with life)
o western cultures see it as something that is wrong and needs fixing; many seek hormone
replacement b/c they experience menopause symptoms (hot flashes, sleep disturbances, nausea)
• double standard of aging
o men age well, don't mind showing their grey hair, seen as wise
o women are considered old, not useful, opinions not considered even though they have lots of
experience
Gender Differences
The Brain
• lateralization – in most humans, left hemisphere is language (women seen to be better), right hemisphere
is spatial skills (men seen to be better)
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