Evaluation of the psychodynamic explanation of gender
development
Little Hans case study
Ovesey and Person (1973): Argued that GID in males is caused by the child experiencing extreme
separation anxiety before gender identity established. This happens through the male child fantasizing a
symbolic fusion with his mother to relieve the anxiety and the danger of separation is removed. This
S means that the child ‘becomes the mother’ and so adopts a female gender identity.
Stoller (1973): Found that GID males have overly close relationships with their mother and so have a
stronger sense of identification with their mother during the phallic stage, as a result taking on a female
gender identity.
P N/A
Alpha bias: Males have stronger gender identities according to his theory which perpetrates male
gender stereotypes. Freud also states that females desire to be like men which displays sexism and
I doesn’t fall in line with todays views in terms of gender equality.
(Same as psychodynamic approach)
A
Karen Horney: Argues that womb envy is more powerful than penis envy. Argued that penis envy was a
cultural concept
Go Lombock et al (1983): Showed children from single parent families developed ‘normal’ gender
C identities.
Green (1978): Studied 37 children raised by gay or transgender families and found only 1 had ‘non-
typical’ gender identity
✘Low temporal validity: Nowadays, women are considered more equal to men and are not usually seen
to possess a desire to become like men. Androgyny in women is usually encouraged by society, rather
than being their desire.
E
D (Same as psychodynamic approach)
development
Little Hans case study
Ovesey and Person (1973): Argued that GID in males is caused by the child experiencing extreme
separation anxiety before gender identity established. This happens through the male child fantasizing a
symbolic fusion with his mother to relieve the anxiety and the danger of separation is removed. This
S means that the child ‘becomes the mother’ and so adopts a female gender identity.
Stoller (1973): Found that GID males have overly close relationships with their mother and so have a
stronger sense of identification with their mother during the phallic stage, as a result taking on a female
gender identity.
P N/A
Alpha bias: Males have stronger gender identities according to his theory which perpetrates male
gender stereotypes. Freud also states that females desire to be like men which displays sexism and
I doesn’t fall in line with todays views in terms of gender equality.
(Same as psychodynamic approach)
A
Karen Horney: Argues that womb envy is more powerful than penis envy. Argued that penis envy was a
cultural concept
Go Lombock et al (1983): Showed children from single parent families developed ‘normal’ gender
C identities.
Green (1978): Studied 37 children raised by gay or transgender families and found only 1 had ‘non-
typical’ gender identity
✘Low temporal validity: Nowadays, women are considered more equal to men and are not usually seen
to possess a desire to become like men. Androgyny in women is usually encouraged by society, rather
than being their desire.
E
D (Same as psychodynamic approach)
