AP Psych Unit 9 Obj 9-15

brain and sexual orientation - differences in neuroanatomy

anterior commissure is larger in gay men than in women or straight men - female typical neuroanatomy

temperament influences sexual orientation

as children, we prefer gender typical or atypical activities, and we feel attracted to whichever sex feels different from our own

prenatal influence in humans

exposure to hormone level experienced by female fetus in critical period for neural-hormonal system predisposes person (m or f) to be attracted to makes

pysch influences on sex

exposure to stimulating conditions, sexual fantasies

social cultural influences on sex

family and society values, religious and personal values, cultural expectations

how do men sexual fantasies differ

fantasize about sex more often, more physically, less romantically. less personal, fast paced

gay males and lesbians atypical traits

fingerprint ridges, non-right handed, auditory system, male body length, spatial abilities, occupations, finger lengths, sleep length

as sex hormones decline later in life

frequency of sexual fantasies and intercourse declines

brain and sexual orientation - difference in homosexual hypothalamus when smelling sex related hormones

gay mens hypothalamus reacts like a womans to the smell of sex related hormones

sexual response cycle - excitement

genital areas engorged with blood, vagina expands and lubricates, breasts enlarge

most people who become infected with HPV will not

have any symptoms and will clear the infection on their own

normal fluctuation of testosterone in men

have no effect on sexual drive, fluctuations partly a response to sexual stimulation

personality disorders

have not been linked to sexual functioning - most people with sexual disorders relate it to emotional relationship w partner

levels of hormones during puberty

hormonal surge - interest in dating and sex increases

HPV

human papilloma virus - skin to skin STI responsible for most genital cancers

why should researchers values be openly stated

if separated from values, students think sex is a recreational activity; enable us to debate and reflect on own valued; intimacy

factors that contribute to high rate of unprotected sex

ignorance, guilt to related sexual activity, minimal communication about birth control, alcohol use, mass media norms of unprotected promiscuity

effect of increase premarital sexual activity

increase in adolescent pregnancy rate

what are contributing factors to why premarital sex acceptance changed

increase in use of more effective contraceptives and increase in abortion

pregnant sheep injected with testosterone

injected w testosterone during a critical period of fetal development, their offspring show homosexual behavior

people who think sexual orientation is biologically predisposed

more accepting of homosexual orientation

male hormone levels are

more constant, but in absence of testosterone they gradually lose interest in receptive females

in humans, hormones influence sexual behaviors

more loosely

Alfred Kinsey findings

most men, 1/2 women had premarital sex; enormously varied sexual behavior

rate of teen intercourse in arab and Asian nations

much lower in those nations than US

sexual response cycle - orgasm

muscle contractions, uterus receives sperm

most psychiatrists believe that _____ plays a larger role in predisposing sexual orientation

nature

there is no _______ for HPV

no cure

can condoms prevent the spread of STIS

no protection against skin to skin STIs, can reduce risk of AIDS

sex hormones direct

physical development of sex characteristics and activate sexual behavior

what certain populations to homosexual people appear in

poets, musicians, fiction writers, artists

sexual disorders

premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, orgasmic disorder

in most mammals, females are sexually receptive when

production of estrogen peaks at ovulation

during resolution, males experience

refractory period; few minutes to a few days which is much longer than female's refractory period

genes that convey

reproductive advantage in mothers influences sexual orientation of sons

womens erotic plasticity

sexual drive is more varied and flexible; sexual orientation felt less strongly and more changeable

when a womens testosterone level drops

sexual interest declines

biological influences on sex

sexual maturity, sex hormones, sexual orientation

how do most psychologists view how sexual orientation is determined

sexual orientation is neither willfully chosen or willfully changed

homosexuals are found to be no more likely to have been

smothered by their mother, neglected by their father, or sexually abused

sex enables

species survival

how does our imagination influence sexual motivation

stimuli inside brains can influence sexual arousal and desire - dreams

who is most vulnerable to STIs

teenage girls - less mature biological development and lower levels of protective antibodies

genetic influences on sexual orientation

1) homosexuality runs in families 2) identical twin more likely to share co-twins sexual orientation 3) sexual attraction has been genetically manipulated in flies

americans changed behavior in these ways in response to AIDs epidemic of the 1980s

1) reduce number of partners 2) greater use of condoms 3) greater care in selecting partners

2000 US Census how much of population is gay or lesbian

2.5%

HPV stats

20 million currently infected; 50% will acquire it at some point in their lives; by age 50, 80% women will have it

high risk viruses can cause what

abnormal Pap tests; cancers cervix, vagina, penis

what to recent survey opinions reveal about acceptance of homosexuality

acceptance increasing in America and Europe; most common among women, those w gay or lesbian friend or relative, and younger adults

abnormal prenatal hormones

altered the fetus sexual orientation

comparing American and European teen sexual activity

americans - less intercourse, lower rates of contraceptive use, higher rate of teen pregnancy and abortion

what area of the brain is stimulated when viewing erotic stimuli

amygdala - more active in men viewing it

who are more likely to report having an viral STI

better educated people

sexual response cycle - resolution

body returns to unaroused state, genital blood vessels release blood

who is erotic stimuli arousing for

both men and women

brain and sexual orientation - differences

brain cell cluster larger in heterosexual men and slight hypothalamic difference - brain anatomy influences sexual orientation prenatally

sexual response cycle - plateau

breathing, pulse, and blood pressure increase, fluid, vaginal secretement

why fraternal birth order defect

defensive maternal immune system response to foreign substances produced by male fetus; maternal antibodies become stronger after each pregnancy w male fetus, keeping brain from developing into a male typical pattern

what is erotic plasticity

degree to which one's sex drive can be changed by social or cultural factors

both hunger and sexual motivation

depend on internal physiological factors and are influenced by external and imagined stimuli and cultural expectations

homosexuals suffer from elevated rates of

depression and risk of suicide attempts resulting from bullying, harassment, and discrimination

research does not attempt to define the personal _____ of sex

doesn't define personal meaning of sex, but sex research and education are not value free

when do homosexual reports having feelings for same sex

during or shortly after puberty

what happens with repeated exposure to erotic stimuli

emotional response to any erotic stimulus habituates/lessens

sexual orientation is

enduring

we don't know if there are

environmental factors that influence sexual orientation

who is more likely to contract an STI

men - more sex partners; but women are about twice as likely to contract an infection

how might siblings affect the rate of homosexuality

men who have older brothers are more likely to be gay - fraternal birth order defect

low risk type

mild pap test abnormalities; genital warts

how has acceptance of premarital sex changed

varies across time and culture; today - 50% of 9-12 graders had premarital sex

can sexually explicit material have adverse effects

yes - viewers think women enjoy rape and increases willingness of men to hurt women; makes partner less desirable

does same sex attraction occur in animals

yes, sheep, grizzlies, gorillas, monkeys