Question

Describe how hormones masculinize or feminize sexual development and behavior.

Can you please help me find some data that will help me interpret this question.

thanks.

rose

Answer 1

These may help you.

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/S/SexHormones.html

http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/students/sexmotiv.htm

http://people.eku.edu/falkenbergs/psy311/slides/Reprobeh_files/frame.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=3mJ4p9wYfR8C&pg=PA359&lpg=PA359&dq=hormones+sexual+behavior&source=bl&ots=SL_TAOpi9D&sig=khdJusSBvU76FX7giJSmQTUMbr0&hl=en&ei=d9GmSYz5HIjBnQf_hZ3dDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result

Answer 2

thanks a lot Ms. Sue. Have a nice day.

Rose

Answer 3

You're welcome, Rose. And you, too, have a good day!

Answer 4

Here is a view of hormonal disorders from my Human Sexuality class notes:

Hormonal sex is the same for the first 6 weeks prenatal. Prenatal hormones influence development of external genitals, depending on the ratio of estrogens to androgens, and brain dimorphism.

Hermaphrodites posses sex characteristics of both sexes. Pseudo-hermaphrodites have normal gonads of one sex with ambiguous genitals. True hermaphrodites have ambiguous genitals with both gonads, ovaries and testes or ovotestes. The latter occur about 1.5 times per 100,000 births. Hormonal abnormalities are of several kinds.

A. Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) or testicular feminization is a genetic male whose body does not respond to androgens produced. He has male gonads but female genitals, leading to a female gender identity. He is sterile, because he has no internal female sexual organs. Occurring about once every 20,000 births, disorder is usually not noticed until puberty.

B. Congenital Adrenal hyperplasia or adrenogenital syndrome (AGS) also occurs about once in every 20,000 births and is fetally androgenized by adrenal gland. The genetic female has a penis with empty scrotum (or ambiguous organs) with ovaries and inner portion of vagina. With surgery, can develop female gender identity, but higher levels of androgens lead to "tomboyish" behavior.

C. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) deficiency is like AIS until puberty, when male characteristics develop (example of 18 children in Dominican Republic).

I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.