Chapter 10 Psychology for Exam 2

Sex

The biological category of male or female as defined by physical differences in genetic composition and in reproductive anatomy and function

Erectile Dysfunction

A recurrent inability to achieve or maintain an erection

Sexual Disorders and Problems

40% to 45% of women and 20% to 30% of men report sexual problems. Low desire and arousal problems common among women (20%). Premature ejaculation and erectile problems common among men (20%)

How often do people engage in sexual activity continued again

About 3% to 6% have engaged in anal sex in the past year. Popularity of anal sex is higher among younger adults than older adults.

How often do people engage in sexual activity?

About 35% of men and 40% of women aged 18-94 had not had intercourse at all in the past year. About 15% of men and women had sex a few times per year to monthly. Approximately 30% have had sex a few times a month to weekly. About 15% have sex 2 or 3 times per week, and only 4% have had sex 4 or more times a week.

Stage 4: Resolution

Arousal slowly subsides and returns to normal levels

Gender Roles

Behaviors, attitudes, and personality traits designated either masculine or feminine in a given culture

Gender- role Stereotype

Beliefs and expectations that people hold about characteristics and behaviors of each sex

In General

Characteristics associated with males tended to be stronger and more active than characteristics associated with females

Between Ages 2-3 years

Children can identify themselves and other children as boys or girls. Toddler girls tend to play more with dolls and ask for help more than boys; toddler boys tend to play more with trucks and wagons, and tend to play more actively.

Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder

Chronic genital pain before, during, or after intercourse

After age 3 years

Consistent gender differences in preferred toys and activities. Boys and girls seem to create separate almost "social worlds," each with its own style or interaction/

Gender

Cultural, Social, and psychological meanings associated with masculinity or femininity

Male Orgasmic Disorder

Delayed orgasm during intercourse or the inability to achieve orgasm during intercourse

Sexual Orientation

Direction of a person's emotional and erotic attractions

Female Orgasmic Disorder

Distress over consistent delays in achieving orgasm or the complete inability to achieve orgasm.

Interactionist Theories use combination of explanations

Division of labor along gender lines: Biological Theory: more efficient for men and women to be responsible for difference activities. Social and psychological theories: Division of labor seems natural and inevitable.

Evolutionary Theories

Gender differences are the result of generations of the dual forces of sexual selection and parental investment Behavior and traits are adaptive to the degree that they further the transmission of one's genes to the next generation and beyond. Research: Cognitive skills, and mate preferences; mating strategies.

Social Learning Theory: Learning Gender Roles

Gender roles are acquired through learning, including reinforcement, punishment, and modeling. Children are reinforced or rewarded when they display gender-appropriate behavior and punished when they do not. Children engage in modeling and observational learning as described by Bandura.

What determines sexual orientation?

Genetics Parental environment Brain structure Other findings

Paraphillic Disorders

Includes any of several forms of nontraditional sexual behavior in which a person's sexual gratification depends on an unusual sexual experience, object, or fantasy.

Sexual Behavior

Intimate, committed relationships are typically established during early adulthood, but they remain important throughout the lifespan

Sexual Dysfunctions

Involves disorders that are associated with significant disturbances in a person's ability to respond sexually or to experience sexual pleasure

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Little or no sexual desire

How many sexual partners do people have?

Males tend to desire and have more sexual partners than females. More than half (53%) of men, but only about one third (31%) of women in the 25-44 age group reported having had seven or more lifetime sexual partners More than 70% of males and females had either one or no sexual partner in previous year.

Reproductive Structures

May be partly male and partly female, tissues may be insensitive to the effects of hormones, or tissues may be exposed to hormone levels that are inconsistent with the person's genetic sex: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Androgen insensitivity syndrome

Benevolent Sexism

Men and women accept female stereotype more positively than male stereotype. Men chivalry towards women. Superior of women (protectors). Contributes to gender inequality.

Evolution and Mate Preferences

Men were more likely than women to value youth and physical attractiveness in a potential mate. Attractiveness signals physical health and high-quality genes.

Sex After Sixty? Seventy? Eighty?

More than half of people aged 60-85 are sexually active. About 1/3 of 75-85 remain sexually active

Gender Dysphoria

Occurs when extreme discomfort with assigned gender causes significant psychological dysfunction.

Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors

Only small differences between men and women; both tend to be less than honest in questionnaire responses. Men reported more permissive sexual attitudes, including much greater acceptance of casual sex. Men have more sexual partners than women and experienced first intercourse at an earlier age. Men report higher incidence than women of masturbation and more use of pornography.

Premature Ejaculation

Orgasm occurring before it is desired, often immediately or shortly after sexual stimulation or penetration

How often do people engage in sexual activity continued

People between the ages of 18 and 59 have engaged in traditional sexual behaviors in the past year. Vaginal intercourse is quite common for both men (80%) and women (86%). About 37% give oral sex to their partner and about 44% of men and 31% of women have received it.

Gender Identity

Person's psychological sense of being male or female

Stage 2: Plateau

Physical Arousal builds

Hooking Up

Refers to a no-strings-attached, sexual encounter that can range from kissing and cuddling to sexual intercourse.

Transsexual Individual

Refers to a person who undergoes surgery and hormone treatments to physically transform his or her body into the opposite sex.

Intersex Individual

Refers to a person with a disorder of sex development, is someone whose biological sex is ambiguous.

Transgender Individual

Refers to a person's psychological gender identity conflicts with his or her biological sex. Are anatomically "normal"- they are biologically male or female. May be homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual.

Hooking Up on Campus

Research indicates that about 80% of student reported hooking up at least once while they were in college, and more than half had hooked up during the previous year. More men; alcohol use; more positive than negative perceptions about the experiences.

Women were more likely than men to value financial security access to maternal resources, high-status education, and good financial prospects.

Seek "good" genes: healthy and attractive Need to make sure that children survive to carry genes into future generations- financial variable.

The Stages of Human Sexuality (William Masters and Virginia Johnson)

Stage 1: Excitement The beginning of sexual arousal; preparation for intercourse

Stage 3: Orgasm

Third and shortest phase of the sexual response cycle Subjective experience of orgasm is similar in men and women- and very positive. Males ejaculate, females experience vaginal contractions

Gender Stereotypes and Gender Roles Our Culture

Women are thought to be more emotional, nurturing, and patient than men. Men are thought t be more aggressive, decisive, and mechanically minded than women

Gender-Related Differences Differences in Emotionality

Women display more emotional awareness than men and report experiencing and expressing more sadness, fear, and guilt. Men report experiencing and expressing more anger and hostility. Expression of emotion is stronger influenced by culturally determined display rules.