Psychosocial development in a genetic male surgically reassigned as a female at birth.
This paper explores the psychological development of a child who is genetically a boy (Chromosome 46XY). However, because of multiple defects, a decision was made at birth to assign the child the gender status of a girl. Research has shown that the gender-feedback effect resulting from parent-and-infant interaction even at an early age leads to the development of sexual differences in behavior. Based on this conceptual framework, this paper investigates the complex interaction of the forces that shape sexual nature. It examines the process by which this 11-year-old girl is attempting to establish her gender identity. This paper also explores the conflicts resulting from the discordance between gender and identity, and the expression of this in developmentally regressive behavior and intellectual underachievement.
Gupta
S
S
Department of Psychology, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary.
D001009:Anxiety, Castration / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007021:Hypospadias / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011573:Psychoanalytic Interpretation; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011606:Psychosexual Development