AP Psychology Study Guide

Unit 9: Social Psychology 🧠

Gender and Sexual Orientation

Understanding how we perceive ourselves and others through the lens of gender and sexual orientation is crucial in psychology.

Let's delve into the key concepts:

I. Sex and Gender: Not Interchangeable

• Sex: Refers to the biological distinction between males (XY chromosomes) and females (XX chromosomes). Think of it as the blueprint for physical differences.

• Gender: This is where things get interesting! Gender is a social construct - a set of expectations and roles about how males and females should behave, dress, and express themselves. It's about how you identify and express yourself within societal norms.

II. Navigating Gender Identity

• Gender Identity: This is your personal sense of being male, female, both, neither, or somewhere in between. It's how you feel inside and may or may not align with your biological sex.

• Cisgender: When your gender identity matches your sex assigned at birth.

• Transgender: When your gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth. For example, someone assigned male at birth who identifies as female.

• Gender Non-conforming: Individuals who don't conform to traditional gender norms, often challenging the binary view of gender. This might include expressing themselves through clothing, behavior, or identity in ways that don't fit typical male or female stereotypes.

III. Sexual Orientation: Attraction and Identity

• Sexual Orientation: This describes who a person is emotionally, romantically, and/or sexually attracted to. It's about your heart and who you're drawn to.

• Heterosexual: Attraction to the opposite gender.

• Homosexual: Attraction to the same gender.

• Bisexual: Attraction to both men and women.

• Pansexual: Attraction to people regardless of their gender identity or expression.

• Asexual: Experiencing little or no sexual attraction to others.

IV. The Biology of Gender and Sexual Orientation

• Biological Factors: While research is ongoing, studies suggest a complex interplay of genetics, hormones, and prenatal environment might influence both gender identity and sexual orientation. Think nature and nurture working together.

• Brain Structure: Some research points to differences in brain structures between heterosexual and homosexual individuals. However, it's crucial to remember correlation doesn't equal causation.

V. Social Influences: Shaping Our Perceptions

• Gender Roles: These are societal expectations of how males and females should behave. Think about toys marketed to boys vs. girls or expectations regarding careers.

• Gender Stereotypes: Overgeneralized beliefs about the characteristics of males and females. For instance, "men are better at math