Chemical Influences and Gender Identity
Chemical Influences and Gender Identity
Brian Hartung
UoP
Psy 344
May 17, 2012
Giselle Gourrier
Chemical influences and gender identity
In this paper will be discussing how biological factors such as nature, i.e. genetics and other environmental influences factor in to our sexual orientation and gender identity. Next I will focus the discussion based upon my evaluation of the nature versus nurture agreement, and decide which one has a larger influence over gender identity be it nature or nurture. Lastly, the paper will talk about current arguments in biopsychology might be able to help with bringing about a resolution to this debate. Nature vs. Nurture The question being asked here is, what roles do biology and other influences namely the environment contribute to the development of gender and sexual preference.
The 1st thing we need to know before we get into the meat of the argument is to provide the reader with a general idea as to which terms I will be using in my argument. What is gender identity? Well, for all intents and purposes, in its broadest sense with to respects to this paper, gender identity is often referred to as the individuals own sense of identifying themselves as male or female. Another term that needs to be defined is, what is sexual preference or orientation? Sexual orientation, or preference is in individuals pattern or behavior and their attraction of these emotionally romantically or sexually or any combination of these to the opposite sex the same sex or both sexes.
The term environment needs to be discussed a little bit, in this paper for the terms of this paper environment means the world outside of us. For example the pollutants in the air, the chemicals in our food that we eat and drink, and other chemicals we absorb through the atmosphere on a daily basis. There is another part to the word environment, and that is the environment in which we
Brian Hartung
UoP
Psy 344
May 17, 2012
Giselle Gourrier
Chemical influences and gender identity
In this paper will be discussing how biological factors such as nature, i.e. genetics and other environmental influences factor in to our sexual orientation and gender identity. Next I will focus the discussion based upon my evaluation of the nature versus nurture agreement, and decide which one has a larger influence over gender identity be it nature or nurture. Lastly, the paper will talk about current arguments in biopsychology might be able to help with bringing about a resolution to this debate. Nature vs. Nurture The question being asked here is, what roles do biology and other influences namely the environment contribute to the development of gender and sexual preference.
The 1st thing we need to know before we get into the meat of the argument is to provide the reader with a general idea as to which terms I will be using in my argument. What is gender identity? Well, for all intents and purposes, in its broadest sense with to respects to this paper, gender identity is often referred to as the individuals own sense of identifying themselves as male or female. Another term that needs to be defined is, what is sexual preference or orientation? Sexual orientation, or preference is in individuals pattern or behavior and their attraction of these emotionally romantically or sexually or any combination of these to the opposite sex the same sex or both sexes.
The term environment needs to be discussed a little bit, in this paper for the terms of this paper environment means the world outside of us. For example the pollutants in the air, the chemicals in our food that we eat and drink, and other chemicals we absorb through the atmosphere on a daily basis. There is another part to the word environment, and that is the environment in which we