Psych 210: Chapter 8

Which of the following occurs during the plateau phase? A The vagina expands near its opening and contracts toward the back. B Sexual arousal gradually increases for exactly 10 minutes. C Increases as well as decreases in arousal commonly occur. D The strength of erection subsides.

C

Which of the following best finished this sentence? Research suggests that compared to vaginal orgasms, clitoral orgasms: A Cause different muscles to contract. B Cause different parts of the brain activate. C Cause blood flow to be more concentrated around the clitoris. D All of the above

C

Similarity (attraction similarity hypothesis)

we prefer and are more romantically attracted to those who we view as more similar to us in physical attractiveness, attitudes, values and activity preferences.

self-verification theory

we prefer partners who mirror back to us an image of ourselves that is consistent with our own self-concept

Smell

western culture typically likes "clean" smelling people. when women are ovulating however their B.O. smells better to men and men's smells better to them. we are also attracted to the smell of people who share the same orientation as us

serial orgasms

when a woman experiences a sequence of orgasms, one right after the other, without ever descending into the plateau phase. This is almost like one extended orgasm that typically lasts from about 20 seconds to a minute.

habituation

when one becomes too familiar with a romantic partner to the point where attraction fades

Masters and Johnson Sexual Response Cycle

1. Excitement 2. Plateau 3. Orgasm 4. Resolution

Which of the following is true in terms of what makes for an attractive face and body? A Most people find very feminine faces to be the most attractive in women. B A face that is too perfectly symmetrical seems odd and subtly unattractive. C Having a very low BMI is considered attractive universally across most cultures and time periods. D A waist to hip ratio of .7 is considered most attractive in women but only in western cultures.

A

Masculinity/Femininity

Males find more feminine faces more attractive (smaller face larger eyes) whereas women find masculine faces more attractive (large jaw) especially when they are most fertile. women don't like faces that are too masculine and threatening.

The Plateau Phase (Men)

Secretions from the bulbourethral gland appear at tip of penis ("pre-cum"). Erection becomes stronger. Testicles continue to elevate and swell. Heart rate, blood pressure and overall body muscle tension build.

From the video, what did researchers use in a study of attraction to substantiate the claim that women are attracted to men of different immunological makeup?

Sweaty t-shirt

The Excitement Phase (Women)

Swelling and opening up of the inner labia Vaginal lubrication Deepening in color of inner labia and vagina walls caused by increased filling of local blood vessels (vasocongestion) Erection of clitoris and nipples Swelling of the breasts Increase in heart rate and blood pressure Lengthening and stiffening of vaginal walls (tenting effect)

rape fantasies

approximately 50% of women experience at least once in their lifetime. It is likely that rape fantasy reflects a generalized openness to experience rather than a thirst for power or a means of avoiding sexual guilt.

Babyfacedness

childlike proportions are generally more attractive especially in women

Orgasm

climax of sexual arousal characterized by release in the genital area as a brief series of rhythmic muscle contractions radiates out from the pubococcygeus and other pelvic floor muscles. Respiration, heart rate and blood pressure all peak during orgasm.

demisexual.

experiencing sexual attraction only in the context of a strong emotional bond or relationship

reciprocal liking

knowing someone likes us makes us likely to like that person even more

Vocal Pitch

men like higher voices whereas women are typically attracted to lower voices

hypogonadism

men who have a significant reduction in testosterone.For these men, testosterone supplements can be effective at reversing lost libido and low energy

multiple orgasms

occurs if sequential orgasms occur without passing through resolution

Misattribution of Arousal

occurs when high-anxiety situations cause people to falsely interpret the excitement they feel as a romantic spark for another person who happens to be nearby

Pheromones

odorless chemicals that serve as social signals to members of one's species and lead to increased desire for sex. during ovulation they are likely why strippers get more tips.

During the plateau stage, the building of the ________ refers to the thickening and tightening of the outer third of the vagina from vasocongestion as well as the tightening of the surrounding pelvic floor muscles

orgasmic platform

What is the name of the hormone released by the pituitary during orgasm that contributes to intense feelings of pleasure and sexual bonding?

oxytocin

Whipple Model

pleasure and satisfaction fuel desire for future sexual activity. If pleasure and satisfaction from one sexual experience fall short, it directly impacts the desire a female feels for future sexual encounters.

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)

ration of .7 is typically thought of as more attractive in females whereas a ratio of .8 to 1 is in males. weight is distributed by sex hormones so it indicates fertility.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

ration of weight to height. as a basis for attraction it has changed throughout time depending on what weight represented

What theory suggests that we prefer those who reflect back to us an image of ourselves that matches our own self views?

self-verification theory

According to the study presented in the video, gay men were most aligned with whom when rating their attractions?

straight women

propinquity

tendency for people to form friendships or romantic relationships with those they frequently encounter

familiarity breeds liking effect (exposure effect)

the more familiar we become with something, the more we like it, and studies show that this effect extends to people

The brain during orgasm

the nucleus accumbens or pleasure center of the brain has increased activity while the thinking part of the brain, the cerebral cortex, quiets down. the pituitary releases a rush of oxytocin hormone that aids in pleasure.

Coolidge effect

the sexually arousing power of a new partner or stimulus that can lessen the refractory period

Which of the following is false concerning multiple orgasms? A Both males and females can experience multiple orgasms. B In between multiple orgasms, both males and females pass through the resolution phase. C Usually a man ejaculates only after the last orgasm. D Serial orgasms usually occur more closely together than multiple orgasms.

B

Which of the following is not true in the excitement phase, especially in women? A Engaging in sexual behavior sometimes precedes feeling sexually "turned-on." B The physiological changes in a person's body completely reveals their subjective feelings of sexual arousal. C Feelings of sexual arousal can come from both internal (i.e., erotic thoughts or dreams) as well as external (physical stimulation) sources. D Excitement generally leads to erection in men and vasocongestion in women.

B

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between propinquity/familiarity and attraction? A We tend to fall for those whom we don't often see since mystery and absence makes the heart grow fonder. B Opposites attract—we are more most likely to fall in love with someone who is different from us and offers a unique perspective. C The more we see a person, the more we tend to grow fond of them. D We are most attracted to people who are different than us and thus offer a unique perspective.

C

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between testosterone and sexual arousal? A Testosterone rises when a person becomes aroused, and declines when they are turned off. B Testosterone declines when a person becomes aroused, and increases when they are turned off. C Replacing/adding testosterone as a therapy can increase sexual arousal in men who suffer from having too little testosterone. D Testosterone has no impact on sexual arousal at all.

C

Which of the following is commonly true of sexual fantasies? A They reflect our literal wishes and desires. B They provide clues as to a person's sexual neuroses and disorders. C Their content frequently reflects the type of healthy sexual behavior we already engage in. D Their content frequently contains sexual acts that the person would never literally wish for in actual life.

C,D

The resolution phase

During resolution, the signs of sexual arousal dissipate. Blood pressure, heart rate and respiration all return to normal. The clitoris and penis lose their erection, and all signs of vasocongestion, swelling and muscle tension subside. This phase lasts typically about 15 minutes

The Excitement Phase (Men)

Erection of the penis which takes approximately one minute (typical for a healthy young male) to 60 minutes: arteries leading into penis open, veins leading out of the penis close, causing the penis to become rigid; corpora cavernosa fills with blood causing the penis to point upward; and corpora spongiosum fills with blood causing the penis to increase in size. Contraction of cremaster muscle causes testicles to elevate and pelvic floor to tighten.

What critical event does the video describe as having a profound impact on whether we find someone attractive or not?

First kiss

The Plateau Phase (General)

The longest part of the cycle where excitement is maintained. can last from minutes to an hour. can be extremely variable

The Plateau Phase (Women)

The orgasmic platform builds. This includes thickening (from vasocongestion) and tightening of the outer third of vagina as well as surrounding muscles that are part of the pelvic floor. If heterosexual coitus is occurring, this causes the vagina to tighten around the penis. The inner part of the vagina balloons and lengthens; it does not grip the penis at all during coitus. Heart rate increases. Blood pressure and muscle tension throughout the body can cause parts of the body to become flushed, especially the nipples and breasts.

Facial Symmetry

We find people with more symmetric faces more attractive possibly because we perceive that as having better genetics

refractory period

a resting period after orgasm, during which a man cannot achieve another orgasm. can be 30 seconds to 90 minutes.

Kaplan's Triphasic Model

desire, excitement, resolution

Asexuality

people who are asexual have little or no desire to engage in sexual behavior with others