A Developmental Line of Gender Identity, Gender Role, and Choice of Love Object

Abstract

A schematic overview of the development of male and female gender identity has been presented with an attempt to formulate a developmental line. The steps include: (Table: see text) In discussion of these steps an effort was made to distinguish between core morphological or core gender identity--that is, the primary sense of being male or female, to which other aspects of gender identity are added over the course of development to eventually include a "mix" of masculinity and femininity; gender role identity, which includes the conscious and unconscious mental representations of dialogues with other people vis-à-vis one's gender identity as well as identification with role models; and the separate process of choosing a sexual partner orientation. These separate strands join together and intermingle to make up what we view globally as "gender identity."

A Critique of BEM's “Exotic Becomes Erotic” Theory of Sexual Orientation Development

“…Mothers.-A substantial body of literature suggests that homosexual men have an overly dose relationship with a dominant mother, which interferes with their relationship with their fathers (Acosta, 1975;Tyson, 1982). Specifically, homosexual males reportedly had relationships with their mothers that were characterized as being "over-identified" (Chang & Block, 1960), "over-attached" (O'Connor, 1964, "over-connected" (Van den Aardweg, 1984), having "excessive attachment" (Stekel, 1922); "clear[er] preference for mother than for father" (Jonas, 1944), "blissful symbiosis" (Stoller, 1975), "overclose" (Friedman, 1988), and "excessive closeness" (Greenson, 1966).…”

Psychoanalytic Contributions to the Study of Gender Issues

“…Boys are more task-oriented; they prefer muscular activities and rough play and generally need a greater assertive experience of the ego boundaries. Tyson defmes a first stage during which developmental tasks impact the narcissistic consolidation of the body image (39). The availability of the father as a male model for the son helps to loosen the symbiotic ties with the mother and to establish a sense of primary masculinity.…”

What is the Role of Gender in Hysteria?

“…(8,lO) Tyson (11) and Laplanche (12)(13), work with the recognition of a distinction between father and mother that precedes the sex difference. This implies admitting that the concept of the masculine/feminine pair is formed before the idea of castration arises.…”