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Gender Identity Development: A Biopsychosocial Perspective

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Gender Dysphoria and Disorders of Sex Development

Part of the book series: Focus on Sexuality Research ((FOSR))

Abstract

From the first time individuals described a felt incongruence between their assigned and their experienced gender, people have been interested in the origins of gender dysphoria and transsexualism. This chapter focuses on the various theories and research evidence about gender identity development, which have often pointed to a biological, a psychological, or a social factor as determining one’s gender identity. Over time, differing views prevailed, although the multiple perspectives also developed parallel to one another. Two distinct lines of research on gender identity development emerged: those focused on “normative” development and those focused on nonnormative or gender-variant development. The chapter first describes the multiple factors (biological, psychological, and social) that were studied in both lines of research. After that, current studies are presented that give evidence for a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors in gender identity development. Recent findings from neuroimaging and genetic studies of individuals with gender dysphoria provide evidence that nature is of importance. Its exact role however remains largely enigmatic.

Regarding future studies of gender identity development, we conclude that they should seek to understand not only the potential genetic and environmental (from both nature and nurture) factors, but also when these factors emerge in life and how those factors may be of influence on the full spectrum from gender-normative to gender-variant development in all its expressions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, VU University Medical Center, 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Annelou L. C. de Vries M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Medical Psychology, Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, VU University Medical Center, 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Baudewijntje P. C. Kreukels Ph.D. & Thomas D. Steensma Ph.D.

  3. Department of Human Development, Washington State University, 644852, Pullman, WA, 99164-4852, USA

    Jenifer K. McGuire Ph.D., M.P.H.

Authors
  1. Annelou L. C. de Vries M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Baudewijntje P. C. Kreukels Ph.D.
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  3. Thomas D. Steensma Ph.D.
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  4. Jenifer K. McGuire Ph.D., M.P.H.
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Correspondence to Annelou L. C. de Vries M.D., Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, ...., Amsterdam, 1007 MB, Netherlands

    Baudewijntje P.C. Kreukels

  2. Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, 1007 MB, Netherlands

    Thomas D. Steensma

  3. Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, Department of Child and Adolescent Psych, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1007 MB, Netherlands

    Annelou L.C. de Vries

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de Vries, A.L.C., Kreukels, B.P.C., Steensma, T.D., McGuire, J.K. (2014). Gender Identity Development: A Biopsychosocial Perspective. In: Kreukels, B., Steensma, T., de Vries, A. (eds) Gender Dysphoria and Disorders of Sex Development. Focus on Sexuality Research. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7441-8_3

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