Gender dysphoria: Mental illness

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Gender dysphoria: Mental illness

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Cole et al (1997) studied 435 individuals experiencing gender dysphoria and reported that the range of psychiatric conditions displayed was no greater than found in the normal population, which suggests that gender dysphoria is unrelated to trauma or pathological families. Due to the lack of findings it would suggest that the psychological explanation of gender dysphoria is not very reliable which therefore weakens it as an explanation..
  • Coates et al (1991) used a case study . Case studies are harder to generalise because they deal with only one person/event/group, we can never be sure whether the conclusions drawn from this particular case apply elsewhere. Case studies are also susceptible to researcher bias because a researchers' own subjective feeling may influence the case study.Finally they are time consuming and very hard to replicate, reducing the internal validity.

Evaluation

Both explanations of gender dysphoria are reductionist because neither considers the alternative approach. This can be considered a strength because it allows us to fully isolate cause and effect and understand that specific explanation in greater depth. This would allow for more speculated treatments of gender dysphoria because only one approach is considered and fully understood. However being reductionist can also cause problems because not all possible factors are considered which could leave many aspects of the individuals disorder unexplained.

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