Development of gender identity

Pitanje razvoja spolnog (danas točnije rečeno rodnog) identiteta složena je tematika koja do danas nije u potpunosti razriješena. Pitanje koje se nameće jest, imaju li veći utjecaj na razvoj rodnog identiteta biološki faktori, kao što su kromosomi i hormoni, ili socijalni faktori, npr. odgoj, interpersonalni odnosi s vršnjacima, životna sredina itd.? Tijekom povijesti, postojalo je mnogo teorija, no danas, mnogi istraživači najviše zastupaju teoriju utjecaja bioloških faktora na rodni identitet. Identitet, prema medicinskom, točnije psihološkom shvaćanju, možemo podijeliti na spolni i rodni. Međutim, to nisu sinonimi, kao što to percipira većina populacije. Upravo se zbog te razlike između spola i roda konstituira bit problema. Stoga se pacijent ne može sam identificirati gdje točno pripada u društveno zadanom binarnom rodnom sustavu (transseksualnost), odnosno, pripada li uopće u njega (interseksualnost). Drugi problem jest, hoće li pacijentova odluka o odabiru određenoj skupini binarnog rodnog sustava, odgovarati društvenim normama određene sredine. Pacijentova okolina ne može shvatiti što takva osoba proživljava, stoga se život u takvoj sredini doima nemoguć te se kao rezultat često javljaju suicidalne misli. Stalnim revidiranjem trenutnih smjernica za poremećaj rodnog identiteta, prilagođavamo se samim pacijentima, učimo iz prakse te težimo biti što efikasniji i pridonijeti što boljim životnim uvjetima. Stoga, cilj nam je pružiti sveobuhvatnu pomoć kako bi olakšali svakodnevne teškoće te izbjegli dugotrajne psihičke posljedice. Svakom pacijentu je potreban individualni pristup, što znači individualna psihoterapija s uključivanjem obitelji te hormonska i/ili kirurška terapija tranzicije spola. Međutim, s naglaskom da su prethodno zadovoljeni svi kriteriji te se pacijent osjeća spremno i zadovoljno u ulozi suprotnog spola. S obzirom na širok spektar bioloških i socijalnih varijacija poremećaja rodnog identiteta, ova tematika je i dan danas diskutabilna te su potrebna daljnja istraživanja kako bi se posve odgonetnulo ovo specifično psihičko stanje.The issue of sexual (today more precisely called gender) identity development is a complex topic that has not yet been fully resolved. The question that arises here is, which factors have a greater influence on gender identity development, biological factors, such as chromosomes and hormones, or social factors, such as upbringing, interpersonal peer relationship, the surrounding environment etc.? Throughout the history, there have been many theories, but nowadays, most experts support the theory that gender identity is shaped mostly by biological factors. Identity, according to medical, i.e. psychological understanding, can be divided into sex and gender. However, these are not synonyms, as the majority of people perceive it. This differentiation between sex and gender is precisely what constitutes the essence of the problem. Because of this, the patient is unable to identify where he belongs in the socially set binary gender system (transsexuality) or whether he belongs to this system at all (intersexuality). The second problem is whether the patient's decision to be a part of a particular group inside the binary gender system correlates with the social norms of the particular environment. The patient's environment cannot comprehend what this person is experiencing, which makes the life in such environments seemingly impossible. As a result, these people often experience suicidal thoughts. By constantly reviewing current guidelines for gender identity disorder, we adapt ourselves to patients, learn from practice, strive to be as efficient as possible, and thus contribute to better living conditions. Therefore, our goal is to provide comprehensive health assistance in order to alleviate daily difficulties and avoid long-term psychological consequences. Each patient needs individual approach, which in this case implies personal psychotherapy with family involvement and hormone and/or surgical sex transition therapy. Of course, this implies that all the criteria have been met beforehand, and the patient feels ready and satisfied in the role of the opposite sex. Given the wide spectrum of biological and social variations of gender identity disorders, this issue is still a topic of debates, and further research is needed in order to fully unravel such a specific psychic, mental and anatomical condition