TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence and Implications From a Natural Experiment of Prenatal Androgen Effects on Gendered Behavior
AU - Berenbaum, Sheri A.
AU - Beltz, Adriene M.
N1 - Funding Information:
We are grateful to the many people who have contributed to the research; for especially significant help, we thank Kristina Bryk, who skillfully managed the projects and contributed to all stages from conceptualization through dissemination; our collaborators, particularly Susan McHale; the pediatric endocrinologists and family-support staff who assisted with recruiting families; and the graduate and undergraduate students and research assistants who helped coordinate studies and collect and process data. We are especially grateful to the families who participated in the studies.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Sex and gender are key to people’s lives, and are the focus of scientific and popular interest and controversy. Sex-related psychological characteristics reflect more than socialization; they are influenced by sex hormones present during sensitive periods of development, particularly androgens that are present prenatally. Studies of females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) show how prenatal androgens affect behavior across the life span; these hormones have large effects on interest and engagement in gendered activities, moderate effects on spatial abilities, and relatively small (or no) effects on gender identity, gender cognitions, and gendered peer involvement. In addition to showing the complexity of androgens’ effects on gendered behavior, studies of females with CAH provide an opportunity to test theories of gender development, gain insight into how nature and nurture work together, and examine mechanisms of development. The implications of this work have often been misunderstood, so we consider what it means—and does not mean—for biology to influence gender-related behavior.
AB - Sex and gender are key to people’s lives, and are the focus of scientific and popular interest and controversy. Sex-related psychological characteristics reflect more than socialization; they are influenced by sex hormones present during sensitive periods of development, particularly androgens that are present prenatally. Studies of females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) show how prenatal androgens affect behavior across the life span; these hormones have large effects on interest and engagement in gendered activities, moderate effects on spatial abilities, and relatively small (or no) effects on gender identity, gender cognitions, and gendered peer involvement. In addition to showing the complexity of androgens’ effects on gendered behavior, studies of females with CAH provide an opportunity to test theories of gender development, gain insight into how nature and nurture work together, and examine mechanisms of development. The implications of this work have often been misunderstood, so we consider what it means—and does not mean—for biology to influence gender-related behavior.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108153424&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85108153424&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0963721421998341
DO - 10.1177/0963721421998341
M3 - Article
C2 - 35692960
AN - SCOPUS:85108153424
SN - 0963-7214
VL - 30
SP - 202
EP - 210
JO - Current Directions in Psychological Science
JF - Current Directions in Psychological Science
IS - 3
ER -