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
