The psychological assessment of gender identity and gender role in schizophrenia.

Abstract

Gender identity has been likened to a symphonic orchestration (Gershman 1970). It is composed of many motifs intertwined into one integrated theme. In other words, gender identity is a composite of several subcategories. These subcategories vary from author to author but not without considerable overlap. John Money (1973), who claims to be the first person to define gender identity in print, discusses gender role, gender identity, and core gender identity. Gender role is the public expression of one's individuality as male or female. Gender identity is the private experience of one's individuality as male or female. Core gender identity is a term used to designate the development of gender identity, a process that has begun as early as 18 months, in contradiction to classic Freudian theory. Biller (1968) defined his three levels as sex-role preference, sex-role adoption, and sex-role identity/ orientation. Sex-role preference is the desire to adhere to cultural prescriptions and proscriptions of the masculine or feminine role. This implies a choice or discrimination, and the individual is aware of which of two roles he wishes to pursue. Sex-role adoption is publicly observable behavior, that is, how masculine or feminine members of society view an individual. As such, it is a function of general behavior, only some of which involves intentional awareness. Sex-role adoption, therefore, is similar to Money's gender role. Sex-role identity/ orientation is the way in which an individual basically views himself. It is an underlying and not necessarily