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Normal and Pathological Gender-Role Development in Children

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From Research to Clinical Practice

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Abstract

The study of sex- and gender-role identity development subsumes a multitude of psychological differences between the sexes. Although based on sexual dimorphism, these differences are critically influenced by factors more profound than biological givens. These primarily include normal versus abnormal development, social stereotypes, and sex-role behavior. This chapter will discuss the influence of biological and social factors on psychosexual development in childhood. It will also investigate ways in which children come to develop particular perceptions, attitudes, affects, and behaviors consistent with their gender-role identity, focusing on the interaction of biological substrates and constitutional endowment with environment. This will be followed by brief reviews of the three major theories of gender-role development, psychoanalytic, social learning, and cognitive development. Issues concerning the development of sex-role stereotypes in early childhood will also be surveyed, with reference to both normal and pathological gender-role development in childhood and to the consequences when disturbances go untreated.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation Services, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    Anna C. Lee

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  1. Anna C. Lee
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA

    George Stricker Ph.D.

  2. C. W. Post Center, Long Island University, Greenvale, New York, USA

    Robert H. Keisner Ph.D.

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© 1985 Plenum Press, New York

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Lee, A.C. (1985). Normal and Pathological Gender-Role Development in Children. In: Stricker, G., Keisner, R.H. (eds) From Research to Clinical Practice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4820-7_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4820-7_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4822-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4820-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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