Author Question: A young father is very concerned because his 4-year-old son enjoys playing girls' games more than ... (Read 143 times)

cnetterville · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A young father is very concerned because his 4-year-old son enjoys playing girls' games more than with boys' toys.. He wants to know if his son is gay or mentally ill.

Which response most professionally describes our current understanding of gender identity? a. A child being interested in the activities of the opposite gender is not unusual and is not related to sexuality; most don't carry these cross-gender interests into adulthood..
b. It's difficult to say for sure because the research is incomplete so far, but chances are that he will grow up to be a normal adult..
c. We really do not know for sure because the research is incomplete, but I can tell you that many boys play girls' games and turn out to be fine as adults..
d. I am sure that whatever happens, he will be a loving son, and you will be a proud father of that wonderful boy..

Question 2

A nurse preparing to interview a client in the client's room begins to move newspapers off a chair to sit down. The client requests that the nurse sit in another chair and leave the newspapers where they were. The client is demonstrating:

a. Personal space
b. Paranoia
c. Manipulation
d. Territoriality

aloop · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
The father's inquiry is really two questions: (1) whether the child's behavior suggests an increased risk of developing mental illness and (2) what the child's future sexual preference will be. The psychiatric disorder that most directly addresses gender preferences and cross-gender activities is gender identity disorder. Pointing out that cross-gender activities are not necessarily related to gender identity and not likely to be carried into adulthood is supported by current research. Saying the child will grow up to be normal or fine implies that to be homosexual is to be abnormal, which reflects a cultural perspective that most professionals would believe to be inappropriate to share in a professional setting. Research does provide information about the relationship between cross-gender interests in childhood versus adulthood, so a comment that research is incomplete is not entirely accurate. Stating that the child is a wonderful boy the father will be proud of, whatever happens, evades the father's question and suggests that parental bonds should not be affected by gender issues. The nurse has a professional obligation to maintain an objective, therapeutic relationship.

Answer to Question 2

D
Territoriality is the need to gain control over an area of space and claim it for oneself, as it helps to provide a sense of identity, security, autonomy, and control over the environment. Personal space is the distance maintained between people. Manipulation and paranoia are not demonstrated in this case.