Human Sexuality Final Exam

era in which romantic love became "most desired above all love"

19th century

Intergenerational transmission of divorce - bimodal relationship among children of divorce

Intergenerational transmission of divorce •The relationship is bi-modal •1st wave of research -On average, higher divorce rates for children of divorce •2nd wave of research -Variation = Commitment to marriage

the three goals of communication (see book)

1. getting the job done 2. maintaining the relationship 3. managing identity Goal: to maintain a healthy relationship that will last

Drag Queen

One who wears clothing intended for another gender for the entertainment of others

relationships between religion and sexual activity and sexual timing

Teens under high surveillance less likely to engage in early sexual onset (but more likely to experiment once out of that environment)

Traditional vs. Permissive attitudes (who are more likely to be in either category)

Traditional -heterosexual/heteronormative -may be low income -sticks with the old school rules Permissive -urban areas, high level of income -easy-going, does not conform to the rules

Power Dynamics in Couples: -Traditional -Near-Peer/Companionate -Peer/Individualized (typical demographics of each)

Traditional •Maintain gender roles; patriarchal; high, working class, low-to middle-income Near-Peer/Companionate •Modern marriage; modified gender roles; compatibility & leisure time; middle income Peer/Individualized •Egalitarian; gender roles almost transcended; attractive to androgynous, young people, progressive politically, highly educated; middle income

Effects of connection and love on health/lifespan

When people love each other they experience less stress in their lives, stronger immune systems, and better overall health

Two-Spirit

a Native American individual who holds the spirits of two genders

Semenarche

a male's first ejaculation

Genderqueer

a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders.

polyamory

a system of multiple-person partnership, does not have to be marriage

I-Statements

an assertion about the feelings, beliefs, values, etc. of the person speaking, generally expressed as a sentence beginning with the word "I"

Nonbinary

an umbrella term covering any gender identity that doesn't fit within the gender binary

Harsh vs. soft start-up

avoid harsh start-up- when one partner brings up an issue and uses criticism and contempt to get their point across, use softened start-up- start with something positive

Gender

behavioral, psychological, and social characteristics of men, women, womxn, etc. Gender is constructed through the complex interaction of: •Nature: genetics and biology •Nurture: social environment and upbringing

Sex

biological aspect of being male, female, intersex, or other

swingers

couples who agree to engage in casual sexual contacts with others

Effects of reparative/conversion therapy

generally not helpful, cannot "fix" your sexual orientation, causes more harm than good

polygamy

having more than one spouse at a time

polygyny

having more than one wife at a time

Sexual Orientation

he gender(s) someone is attracted emotionally, physically, sexually, and romantically

Transvestite

largely outdated term for cross-dressing •Transvesticfetishism: cross-dresses as a means of sexual gratification

polyandry

multiple husbands

Menarche

onset of menstruation

Flooding

overwhelmed by negativity

Transsexual

people who feel trapped in the wrong body; undergo partial or full sexual affirmation procedures; an older term; many transgender people do not identify as transexual

Perpetual vs. Situational problems

perpetual problems just keep on going while situational problems have a solution

Transgender

ranscend notions of traditional gender relating/roles

Relationship between timing of first sexual encounter with partner and later material outcomes

satisfaction, perceived stability, sexual quality, and communication increases the further you are in the relationship

skill vs. intent

skill is how well you can communicate what you're saying. intent is telling how you are feeling, but not telling well.

Divorce: emergence of no-fault divorce in 1970s, common reasons for divorce, divorce trends since then

•Divorce increased in 1970s due to no-fault divorce laws -No longer have to prove alcoholism, insanity, infidelity, or abandonment in court •Most common reasons for divorce: lack of communication, lack of commitment, infidelity, financial problems, substance abuse, conflict -Age, interracial unions, economic conditions can increase divorce •Average marriage length for those who divorce is 7 years

transitional character

"A transitional character is one who, in a single generation, changes the entire course of the lineage. The changes might be for good or ill, but they break the mold. They refute the observation that abused children become abusive parents...Their contribution to humanity is to filter the destructiveness out of their own lineage so that generations downstream will have a supportive foundation upon which to build productive lives." -Dr. Carlfred Broderick

5 Love Languages

1. words of affirmation 2. quality time 3. receiving gifts 4. acts of service 5. physical touch

How prevalence of same-sex orientations differs across cultures

-Frequency of same-sex behaviors have remained constant over the years -it's nothing new -GLBT individuals are in every culture and in the same (similar) prevalence rate, regardless of the society's tolerance; in some cultures, same-sex sexual activity is a normal part of life

Verbal vs. Nonverbal Communication

-Verbal: voice/volume -Nonverbal: gestures, posture, silence, spatial relation -often used in sexual communication

Nocturnal emission

-a "wet dream" -if a male ejaculates in his sleep -could use with women (they do orgasm in their sleep) but mainly men

Gov't requirements for sexual education programs -Federal? -Varies by state? -Accuracy of information required?

-federal funds to abstinence only programs in 49 of 50 states. new implications of preventing teen pregnancy programs -24 states and D.C. require public schools to teach sex ed. -in both these cases, especially abstinence only programs, the information may not be adequate and do more harm than good

Gender vs. Sex vs. Sexual Orientation

-gender is how you identify -sex is physically who you are -sexual orientation has to do with attraction

effects of abstinence-only vs. comprehensive sexual education programs

Comprehensive Sex Ed •Lowest teen pregnancy and birth rates •Lower risk of HIV/STIs •More medically accurate information •Later initiation of sexual behavior, •Fewer sexual partners •Higher contraceptive use Abstinence-Only Sex Ed •Increased teen pregnancy and birth rates •Higher risk of HIV/STIs •80%+ include inaccurate information •Earlier initiation of sexual behavior •More sexual partners •Lower contraceptive use

Gridlock

Emotional gridlock is one of the people-growing processes in relationships that stems from differentiation. On the surface emotional gridlock is a stalemate or impasse in your relationship, a complete lack of movement or inability to move forward.

Basic assumptions of each theory in the PowerPoints

Evolutionary Theory •Humans have 3 basic instincts: -Need for protection -Strategy to form bonds -Sexual drive to reproduce and pass on genes •Love creates the union that maximizes each partner's chance of passing on their genes to the next generation Biological Theory •Pheromones: odorless chemicals processed by brain influence choice of sexual partner •Neurotransmitters create cravings to be with a particular partner Physiological Arousal Theory •We are more likely to experience love when we are physiologically aroused for any reason •Couples who met during a crisis more likely to feel strongly about one another •Arousal is a necessary component of love, but love is more than arousal alone Cognitive Theories -We interpret behaviors/actions as loving or not loving Sociological Theory "Principle of least interest": the person who is least interested in the relationship has the most power, because they are the most willing to leave if their interests aren't met by the relationship

Magic Ratio: 5:1

Five positive interactions for every negative interaction, then it can be successful

Kinsey Scale vs Klein Scale (what each focuses on and how they differ)

Kinsey Scale: 7-point scale (from 0-6) ranges from exclusively heterosexual behavior. critiques of the Kinsey scale include its emphasis on sexual behavior and it being static in time. Klein Sexual Orientation Grid has seven categories: Sexual Attraction, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Fantasies, Emotional Preference, Social Preference, Self-Identification, Straight/Gay Lifestyle. It measures on a scale of 1-7 with 1 being other sex only and 7 being same sex only, how you measure in these categories in past, present, and ideal. Each box is added together to get a score: 21-38 is exclusively heterosexual; 129-147 is exclusively same-sex

Court Case that legalized interracial marriages

Loving v. Virginia (1967): interracial marriages legally permitted in US

Spermatogenesis

the production of sperm cells

Cohabitation: -Prevalence -Reasons for cohabiting -Relationship with divorce

the state of living together and having a sexual relationship before being married •70%+ U.S. heterosexual couples cohabit before marriage •Reasons for cohabiting •Linus blanket: for security, afraid to be alone •Emancipation: freedom •Convenience: economic reasons, location •Test-run for marriage: usually transition to marriage within 3 years, but some engage in serial cohabitation •Demographics associated with a lower chance of divorce (e.g., religiosity) are less likely to cohabit -less likely to divorce

differences in how genders are taught about their bodies and sexuality at young ages

•Boys are usually taught the name penis for their focus of sexual pleasure •Girls are usually not taught about their focus of sexual pleasure (clitoris) or even correct terminology for vulva vs. vagina

Early sexual exploration and physiological sexual functioning (genital touching, physiological arousal (how normal are these at young ages?)

•Children's sexual development is marked first by curiosity about their own bodies and then others' •Start learning what it means to be a boy, girl, or other •Most kids start to realize their sexual nature from 6-11... •Outward signs of puberty develop, yet kids get more secretive about their behavior •Menarche and semenarche may begin •Boys' maturation includes ejaculation (pleasure) •Girls' maturation includes menarche (discomfort) •Masturbation may begin •Sexual contact may begin or increase -all of this is normal

Gottman's four horsemen of the relationship apocalypse: -Criticism/Complaint -Defensiveness -Contempt -Stonewalling

•Criticism (vs. a complaint) •Contempt (anything that conveys disgust) •Defensiveness (indirect blaming of your partner) •Stonewalling (one or both partners no longer communicate; man 85% of the time)

Attachment theory -Attachment styles and how they exhibit

•Deep and enduring emotional bond that connects people across time and space (Ainsworth 1973; Bowlby 1969) •Attachment to the caregiver can affect attachment throughout life

Marriage rates- prevalence of desire to marry, trends around age of first marriage

•Most adults will marry at some point •95% of emerging adults still report wanting to marry •In U.S., first marriage average age is 29 for men; 27 for women (oldest ages in recorded history; in 1960 23 and 20)