Developmental and dynamic systems: insights for sex/gender research
Giordana Grossi1, Annie Duchesne2,3, Donna L Maney4
1Department of Psychology, State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY, USA. grossig@newpaltz.edu.
Biology of Sex Differences
|May 16, 2026
Summary
Recent research integrates gender into sex differences, challenging traditional biological interpretations. Developmental and dynamic systems theories offer frameworks to study complex sex/gender phenomena and their emergence.
Area of Science:
- Integrative biology
- Developmental psychology
- Sociology of gender
Background:
- Traditional sex differences research often oversimplifies complex phenomena by attributing them solely to biological sex.
- Recent work highlights the intricate interplay between sex and gender, necessitating new theoretical and methodological approaches.
- The concept of sex/gender entanglement blurs boundaries between biological sex, gender identity, and environmental influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review foundational concepts of developmental and dynamic systems theories.
- To propose these theories as frameworks for investigating the emergence of complex phenomena in sex/gender research.
- To showcase empirical research demonstrating the utility of these frameworks.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of developmental and dynamic systems theories.
- Conceptual analysis of sex/gender entanglement.
- Synthesis of empirical research examples.
Main Results:
- Developmental and dynamic systems theories provide robust frameworks for understanding complex, emergent phenomena.
- These frameworks accommodate the intricate relationship between biological sex, gender, and environmental factors.
- Empirical examples illustrate the successful application of these theories in sex/gender research.
Conclusions:
- Developmental and dynamic systems theories are essential for advancing sex/gender research beyond simplistic biological determinism.
- Adopting these frameworks allows for a more nuanced understanding of the emergence of physiological and behavioral differences.
- Future research should leverage these theoretical perspectives to explore the multifaceted nature of sex and gender.
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